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MRS. ELIZABETH STRONG-TRACY 



®ijf Ollub linman B 3vxmh 



An analysis of Parliamentary Law, with 
explanations, clear and compre- 
hensive, 

BY 

Parliamentarian of 

The Texas Woman's Press Association, 

The Fourth District Federation of Clubs, 

AND 

State Superintendent of Parliamentary 
Law of the Woman's Christian Tem- 
perance Union. 



Published by J. V. Dealy Co. 
Houston, Texas. 



X 



(^^ 



i 



x-< 



Copyrighted 1909 

BY 

ELIZABETH STROKG-TRACY 



Received from 

Ccpyri-nt O^PJca. 
JUN 7 1910 



PRESS OF 

J. V. DkalyCo. 



TO 

THE WOMEN OF TEXAS, 

Especially those of my Houston friends to 

whose sympathy and encouragement I 

am indebted for the inspiration 

that has resulted in the publica- 

cation of this book. 

E. S.-T. 
Houston, Texas. 



CONTENTS. 

Preface. 

Introduction. 

Parliamentary Law, its History. 

Organization: Complete. 

Constitution — its meaning. 

Introduction of Business. 

General Classification of Motions. 

Motions and Their Order of Precedence. 

Committees, and Informal Action. 

Debate and Decorum. 

Vote. 

The Officers and Minutes. 

Miscellaneous Information. 

Organization and Meetings. 

Officers and Committees. 

Introduction of Business. 

Motions Classified According to their 

Object. 
Additional Miscellaneous. 



PREFACE. 

I have written this book to comply with 
a request of a number of my pupils, and 
the desire of all to have a book containing 
explanations of each motion and question 
as given in class. If the study of this sub- 
ject is pursued in the right manner, it is 
never uninteresting, and with proper di- 
rection will be the origin of most gratify- 
ing results. There is, so far as I know, no 
subject that requires the help of an experi- 
enced teacher more than that of parlia-^ 
mentary law. The student may take up 
the manuals of Robert, Reed or Gushing, 
read and re-read, but without the key to 
unlock what to the uninitiated is a "com- 
plicated labyrinth of mystery," will make 
sm.all advance and become discouraged; 
this key one who has devoted years to the 
systematic study of the question, and had 
a varied experience and some practice, is 
prepared to furnish. 

"An important point to be considered in 
the method of instruction is to be able to in- 



spire confidence in the minds of those you 
wish to influence in their ability to master 
any science, however difficult. The stu- 
dent must not be discouraged if qualifica- 
tions she does not possess are pictured.'' 
In this twentieth century, with all aids ac- 
cessible, even to the humblest — free 
schools, free libraries, free literature, free 
lectures, and a free mind — it is possible to 
attain to anything one may desire. **It 
cannot be too deeply impressed upon the 
mind, that application is the price to be 
paid for mental acquisitions, and that it is 
as absurd to expect them without it, as it 
is to hope for a harvest where we have 
not sown the seed. In everything we do, 
we may possibly be laying the train of 
consequences, the operation of which may 
only terminate with our existence." In the 
discharge of my duties as teacher of par- 
liamentary law, I have frequently felt the 
need of a more comprehensive, clear and 
complete elucidation of the subject than 
I was able to find, and so while studying, I 
have written out for the benefit of my 
classes thoughts upon each motion and 



question that made them clearer to me, 
until I have, I believe, compiled a book 
that may be used in schools and colleges 
as a text-book. Knowledge (in use) is pow- 
er. There is nothing like keeping your 
knowledge in good working order, for you 
can't tell just when you will need it, and 
when you do, you'll need it badly. Nega- 
tive: I think I'll do; positive: I will do. 
I am indebted to men for my knowledge 
of this educational feature, and for all au- 
thorities upon written laws. These au- 
thorities are, first, ''The Great Ruler of 
the Universe," ''The Great Legislator, 
Moses," who prepared himself for his 
great work pondering for forty years upon 
the problem of ''Eternal Justice;" Lycur- 
gus, Draco, Solon, Justinian, Napoleon, 
Myers' General History, Blackstone, Mon- 
tesquieu, Jefferson, Gushing, Robert, Reed, 
Palmer and Howe. It is well for us to 
becom.e possessed of the truth proclaimed 
by Drummond that, "No department of 
knowledge ever contributes to another 
without receiving its own with usury," and 
thus I have found this department of par- 



liamentary law contributing to self-posses- 
sion, self-control, self-reliance, stabilit}^ of 
character, mental poise and charitabla 
feeling. 

Thomas Jefferson, speaking of parlia- 
mentary law, says : 

''For some of the most familiar forms, 
no written authority is or can be quoted; 
no writer having supposed it necessary to 
repeat what all are presumed to know. 
Much is left to the intelligence of the peo- 
ple. The proceedings of Parliament in an- 
cient times, and for a long while, were 
crude, multiform and embarrassing. They 
have been, however, constantly advancing 
toward uniformity and accuracy, and have 
now attained a degree of aptitude to their 
object, beyond which little is to be desired 
or expected." 

Parliamentary law derives its authority 
from the common usage and acceptance of 
assemblies; just as international law de- 
rives its authority from the customs of 
nations; just as the English common law- 
derives its authority from immemorial 
custom and universal usage of a people. 



CLASS TALK. 

The aim of the author is to so explain 
each motion that it may be understood 
hy itself, and also in its relation to other 
motions. The vast number of societies, 
educational, literary, religious, philan- 
thropic and social, among women, has 
made it necessary that they should become 
possessed with the idea of the importance 
of any knowledge that fits them, not only 
for official position, but also for member- 
ship. A capable woman who understands 
the needs of the organization to which she 
belongs, and has a ready knowledge of 
parliamentary law, is equipped for all oc- 
casions, and is a power wherever she may 
be, oftentimes greater than that of "the 
platform," even though she be on the 
*'f!oor of the house." All organizations 
that are not legislative are deliberative in 
character, and have followed the rules and 
customs of our own legislative bodies, and 
our people have been thus educated under 
a system of parliamentary law which is 



11 

peculiar to this country, and yet is so well 
established as to supersede the English 
parliamentary law as the common law of 
ordinary deliberative assemblies. The 
rules of each congress, and of State legis- 
latures, are changed to meet the exigencies 
of the case, and are adapted to their own 
peculiar needs, being of no force whatever 
in ordinary assemblies ; but, upon all great 
parliamentary questions, such as, "what 
motions can be made? what is their order 
of precedence? which can be debated? 
what is their effect upon the main ques- 
tion?" the common parliamentary law of 
the land is settled by the practice of the 
United States House of Representatives. 
To avoid the serious difficulties always 
arising for lack of definiteness in the law, 
"Rules of Order" must be adopted by each 
assemblj^ The protection of parliamentary 
law is needed only when the rules adopted 
b}^ the assembly are not sufficient, or are 
set at naught. Robert says : "All rules of 
parliamentary proceeding are founded on 
reason, tested and approved by experience. 



12 

and where this seems not to be true, you 
are at fault, not parliamentary law." 

Montesquieu, in 'The Spirit of Laws," 
says: 'The fundamental idea of all the 
study and research during all the centuries 
of governments, customs, manners and 
rules, seems to have been the attempt to 
find those common principles of law oper- 
ating upon every degree of civilization that 
would produce the best results, and afford 
a scientific explanation of what without 
their aid would seem to be chaotic and in- 
explicable. He rejoiced to find in the na- 
ture of things the explanation of so many 
different laws and customs." ''Every per- 
son who joins a society, by that act agreesi 
to be bound by the unwritten law govern- 
ing such society, as well as to abide by the 
written constitution, by-laws, and rules of 
order. Every assembly meets with this 
implied understanding. This is the under- 
lying spirit of all organizations," While it 
is an established principle in this demo- 
cratic country that majorities shall rule, 
yet it would be evidently unfair to compel 
a minority to submit to a decision to which 



IS 

they are totally opposed, without showing 
them a way out of the difficulty. This the 
general rules of parliamentary law does; 
and this book embodies them all. 

For this reason explanations are given 
demonstrating the power and authority of 
every rule. Gladstone says: 'It is the 
purpose of all law to make it hard to do 
wrong, and easy to do right" — hence the 
necessity of the knowledge of the estab- 
lished rules of procedure. It must be borne 
in mind that all manuals, such as Robert^ 
Reed, Howe, and others, contain only what 
is called common parliamentary law, and 
is in every society modified or controlled 
by special rules ; it submits itself by volun- 
tary assent to the ordinary rules of parlia- 
mentary practice, and whenever by mis- 
take, or by voluntary assent, those rules 
are departed from, such mistake or de- 
parture does not vitiate the fair expres- 
sion of the will of the assembly that has 
been reached. 

The judgment, opinion, sense or will of 
a deliberative body, is expressed according 
to the nature of the subject, either by reso- 



14 

lution or motion, order or vote. When it 
commands, it is an order; but facts, prin- 
ciples, its own opinions or purposes, are 
more properly expressed in the form of 
a resolution, which is the same as motion, 
the only difference being in the form of 
presentation. 



INTRODUCTION 



PARLIAMENTARY USAGE— ITS USE 
AND NEED. 

Parliamentary law is usually regarded 
among women as a complicated labyrinth of 
myster}', into which only a few may enter. 
This is not so. The general principles and 
effects of the rules governing all organizations 
have been made so intelligible and presented 
in such a manner that they are easily com- 
prehended, and have been proved to be of great 
practical use and value. The knowledge of 
parliamentary law is a necessity to any one 
who wishes to become a helpful and valuable 
acquisition to a society. There is no subject of 
which ignorance may entail such disastrous 
consequences, and it is safe to say there are 
few upon which ignorance is more general. 

Most of us can remember some occasion 
when we would have given anything within our 
power to have known just how to manage some 
point of parliamentary law. How often has 
our uncertainty lost us an advantage, or left 



16 

US to maintain an unequal contest with one 
whose knowledge was more complete, or who 
was more masterful and self-possessed. A per- 
ion who is ignorant of the effect certain par- 
liamentar}^ motions have upon the main ques- 
tion is at the mercy of one who is familiar with 
them, and it is not to be wondered at that 
iuch an one should upon occasion take advan- 
tage of the situation. You can never become 
skilled by now and then attending a meeting 
or convention; there must be frequent prac- 
tice, as well as systematic study, so you can 
realize the importance of practicing these rules 
and laws at all of your meetings. 

Parliamentary law is a shelter, as well as a 
defense. One feels a power, a security, when 
back of them are written laws that have the 
prestige of established authority. We are some- 
times led by caprice, humor or ambition to for- 
get even the law of friendship. It is the tran- 
fiition in manners and customs during the last 
half century that has revolutionized society, and 
developed a need for written laws that must 
come in to assist in maintaining our mental 
poise. These established customs have been 
tested for centuries, and have been proved to 



17 

be the best that could have been devised for 
the purpose. When women from all parts of 
the world and from every walk of life; enthu- 
siastic, emotional women, who each have an 
opinion upon the "Question Before the House/' 
and who wish to express it all at the same time, 
the need, or, rather, necessity, for these laws, as 
well as for rules and regulations which each 
society has a right to adopt for its own govern- 
ment, has been found to be compulsory; that 
our meetings may be conducted with promptness 
and without friction. These laws and rules ex- 
ist for your benefit; to secure to you a refined 
meeting where the utmost harmony must pre- 
vail, in order that business may be conducted 
with expedition and in a dignified and orderly 
manner. They also provide a convenient means 
of ascertaining the wishes of members and exe- 
cuting their will, which is expressed by the 
vote. These parliamentary laws secure economy 
of time and efficiency of government. Every 
proposition stated can be supported by abun- 
dant authority. Accuracy of information is in- 
dispensable in law ; although very perplexing at 
first, if the subject is presented in an intelli- 
gent manner it is readily comprehended. "The 



18 

science of law can not remain content with a 
pnre and simple description of unconnected 
facts. It requires explanations of the reasons 
why'^ such parliamentary motions are necessary, 
or the effects they will have upon the principal 
motion after it becomes "The Main Question Be- 
fore the House/^ In this way we arrive at a 
conclusion that determines the vote. If the 
majority think the same way, the motion is 
adopted; if not, it is rejected. At times the 
situation even in a woman's club becomes acute, 
and demands heroic treatment. It is then that 
the member who knows the exact dose to apply 
and the effect it will have will be able to con- 
trol it. Preference should be given to those 
motions that involve the least friction among 
members. It is here that wisdom and tact are 
most worthy of consideration, and will meet 
with unanimous approval. 

Tact is a combination of quiclmess, firmness, 
readiness, good temper and facility. It never 
offends, never excites jealousy, never provokes 
rivalry, never treads on other people's toes. 
Sometimes the greatest tact is exemplified by 
silence. A tactful person will Imow when argu- 
ment has gone far enough. All your forces of 



19 

intelligence, judgment and persuasion are 
called into service at the bidding of tact. In 
the fewest possible words it is, a nice perception 
of what is required by circumstances. Judg- 
ment is the result of knowledge. We must be 
prepared for emergencies, for the "psychologi- 
cal moment" that may come at any time, when 
knowledge and wisdom and tact are our only 
helps. "Knowledge and wisdom, far from be- 
ing one, have ofttimes no connection. Knowl- 
edge dwells in heads, replete with the 
thoughts of other men. Wisdom, in minds at- 
tentive to their own. Knowledge, a rude, un- 
profitable mass, the mere material with which 
wisdom builds. Till smoothed, and squared, 
and fitted to its place, does but encumber whom 
it seems to enrich. Knowledge is proud that 
lie has learned so much; wisdom is humble that 
she knows no more." — Cowper. 

"Every organization meets with the implied 
understanding that it will be governed and con- 
trolled by the usual custom applicable to such 
organizations, and these customs are called 
general parliamentary law." — Reed. Every per- 
son present is expected to be obedient to them. 
There must be uniformity of practice so that the 



20 

proceedings may be conducted in a dignified and 
orderly manner; that harmonious action may 
be taken both to ascertain and carry out the 
will of the assembly. While it is true that an 
assembly has the right to make the rules that 
shall determine its own action for the time be- 
ing, it is also true that such rules are sub- 
ject to change by majority vote at any meet- 
ing, hence experience has shown the necessity 
for written laws of a permanent nature, appli- 
cable to all societies alike, that shall govern 
the society in all cases when these rules they 
have adopted will not answer the purpose de- 
sired. The unwritten will of the people, as x- 
pressed by usage long continued and uniform, is 
called common law, and has a force as binding 
on the individual as the written will expressed in 
legislative enactments — that is the statutory 
law. The sanction of parliamentary law, the 
thing that gives it binding force, is general 
usage; what the experience of assemblies has 
found to be expedient. 

"Parliamentary law as it now exists has its 
origin in the Parliament of England. Before 
the time when Jefferson wrote his 'Manual.^ 
American parliamentary law was for the most 



21 

part an agg'lomeration of English precedents, 
which were reverenced because they were pre- 
cedents, and not because they were examples of 
proper methods of conducting business." Dick- 
ens says in his book, "The Tale of Two Cities/' 
in speaking of England: "The country often 
did disinherit her sons for suggesting improve- 
ments in customs and laws that had long been 
highly objectionable, but were only the more 
respectable." (I have sometimes thought that 
some women have inherited this notion, judg- 
ing from the way they cling to old prejudices 
and struggle against any change, however bene- 
ficial.) 

Mr. Jefferson, in 1840, speaking of his Man- 
ual, said : "I have begun a sketch which those 
that come after me will successively correct and 
fill up, till a code of rules shall be formed, the 
effect of which may be accuracy in business, 
economy of time, uniformity of proceeding, and 
impartiality." 

One of the ablest speakers in the House of 
Commons, Mr. Onslow, has said: "The rules 
of proceeding instituted by our ancestors oper- 
ate as a check and control on the actions of 
the majority and were in many instances a 



22 

shelter and protection to the minority against 
the attempts of power." Then, again, history 
shows that a talented, educated minority, versed 
in the rules governing deliberative assembles, is 
more than a match for an ignorant, talentless 
majority. An object lesson has come in our 
own time, although in this case both sides 
were educated and talented, but it demonstrates 
the power of parliamentary law. Mr. Reed, 
while speaker of the House of Representatives, 
because of his thorough knowledge of parlia- 
mentary law and its adaptions to the needs of 
the hour, scored a great triumph, by which he 
will be remembered, for by his action he dem- 
onstrated the power of the majority to rule 
when acting along the lines of reason, fair- 
ness and justice. "A series of circumstances 
prior to 1890 occurred to make the House of 
Representatives the most unwieldly parliamen- 
tary body in the world. The last revision of the 
rules had been made by distinguished men of 
both parties, but all animated, for different rea- 
sons then existing, by a desire that the minor- 
ity should have great power. By these rules, 
adopted by the Forty-sixth Congress, the power 
was really made absolute. The motions to 'Ad- 



23 

joiirn/ to Tix the day of Adjournment/ and to 
take a ^Recess' being in order at all times^ consti- 
tuted a barrier by which three resolute men could 
stop all public business^ and one-fifth of the 
House, owing to the right to call the 'Ayes 
and Nays/ could with ease use up three hours 
of public time by the employment of as many 
minutes. One member could move a 'Recess,' 
one to 'Fix Time to Adjourn/ and the third to 
'Adjourn/ and demand the 'Yeas and I^ays' on 
each, each taking up three-quarters of an hour. 
With the time usually wasted on amendmeirtS to 
two of these motions, the three hours would go on 
and at the end the motions could be renewed and 
another three hours destroyed, and so on until 
the majority, tired out, would surrender. In 
short, every road was blocked. In the Fifty-first 
Congress this was changed. Reed became speak- 
er. The motions to adjourn, to fix time for ad- 
journment, and to take a recess were sent back 
to their positions under general parliamentary 
law. A rule was adopted, which was also a re- 
turn to general parliamentary law, that the 
speaker should entertain no dilatory motion. 
"Vfhich meant that the processes of the House in- 
tended to transact business should not be used 



24 

to prevent business." "The great intellects of 
the world have recognized the importance of at- 
tending carefnlly to what some might consider 
the small things of life/' as it is the neglect of 
these in man}^ cases that has caused much dif- 
ficulty. 

Every assembly meets with the understanding 
that it wdll be governed and controlled by some 
laws, rules and customs, such as those laid 
down by Eobert, Gushing, Eeed and others. 
These laws, etc., rightly understood and adhered 
to, help one to build up the law "within. We 
need aid to self-government and self-control. 
"The downfall of every great empire can be 
traced to its violations of the laws of justice 
and right." "Law is still the largest, rich- 
est and surest source of human knowledge," and 
we all comprehend the fact that "knowledge in 
use is power. It is indeed that which, next to 
virtue, truly and essentially raises one man 
above another." "All writers upon parliamen- 
tary law seem fond of quoting this saying of 
HatselFs : '^It is much more material that there 
should be a rule to go by than what that rule 
is.' While this is doubtless true, the progress 
which deliberative bodies have made during the 



25 

l^ast centuries in their methods oi procedure^ 
phiinly shows that tvhat the rules are is consid- 
ered important.-' 

A distinguished writer in parliamentary law 
says : "The great purpose of all forms and rules 
is to subserve the will of the assembly rather 
than to restrain it ; to facilitate and not obstruct 
the expression of their deliberative sense." 
Many movements connected with education, civ- 
ics and other forms of human progress have 
made such an increase in public assemblies, es- 
pecially among women, that there is more need 
of written rules that the assembly may proceed 
in orderly fashion, with as little discord and jar 
as possible, and accomplish the work to be per- 
formed, until a system has been evolved which 
will appeal to the good sense of all, and also be 
the experience of those w^ho have had occasion 
to become versed in the practice. 

"Woman's increasing activity in literary mat- 
ters and great reforms obliges her to acquire a 
knowledge of parliamentary methods. Among 
her needs are self-confidence, self-possession, 
clearness and precision. Familiarity with the 
rules of public assemblies will aid her to that 
confidence. Xo rules, however, will take the 



26 

place of tact and common sense^ but it is safest 
to require tliat the forms of parliamentary law 
be observed^ as in tliem are embodied all the 
rules of good breeding, politeness^ Christian 
courtesy and justice to all/^ 

Parliamentary law is not a series of arbi- 
trary rnles^ but a plain^ consistent system 
fomided on common sense and sanctioned by the 
experience of mankind. ^^Whatever is thought 
over by large numbers of intelligent people gets 
infiltrated with the common sense of the many 
and becomes adapted to their wants and needs/^ 
"This system has grown out of the necessities 
of the case and has become the governing law, 
confidently appealed to by each member of a 
deliberative body, and a presiding officer should 
have a knowledge of these laws and sufficient 
good sense to know when to press a rule and 
when to let common consent have its way." 
"The conduct of an assembly depends much 
more upon the conduct of its presiding officer 
than upon any other condition, or perhaps upon 
all other conditions combined. It is the consen- 
sus of opinion of many intelligent observers that 
the more intelligent the assembly the worse it 
behaves under a bad presiding officer.'^ You 



27 

will sometimes^ perhaps^ be subjected to the 
most lamentable instances of the mismanage- 
ment of affairs, and the necessity of established 
laws that are as unalterable as the legendary 
laws of the Medes and Persians will present 
themselves to you as never before. Laws are 
made for the advantage of the many, not to con- 
fer special privileges upon the few. Many of 
our women fail to realize the importance of a 
knowledge of parliamentary law until some 
event occurs of a most disastrous nature, with 
which they find themselves totally unable to 
grapple, and which proves to them the value of 
its possession. Men do not find the subject be- 
neath their notice, and to this, in a great meas- 
ure, is due their — as a rule — superior mental 
training. It is a well-kno\ni fact that the study 
of law, like mathematics, makes the mind strong 
and systematic. We must remember that to 
men has been given the training of the ages; to 
women that of not half a century. If we find 
a woman who has realized the importance of 
the study and has taken advantage of her oppor- 
tunities to perfect herself in it, we give her 
credit, as she deserves, but we must also remem- 
ber that we are indebted to men for all law. 



28 

and that while in some cases we think we might 
have improved npon them, "men have proved 
themselves greater than the laws they have 
made, and have from monarch to peasant been 
23roiid to lay their best at the feet of some wom- 
an.'^ Law must become the habit of life. This 
is a wonderful word; analyze it. Habit. — Take 
away the h and yon have a hit left; take away 
the b and yon have it left; take away the i and 
it is not t-totally nsed np then. 

So it is with habits. They cling to ns and 
form onr character; they become our natural 
conduct, a law of our being, a kind of second 
nature that grows up within us. So you see the 
importance of good laws, rules and regulations. 
"Until a man has become a law unto himself 
he is not of much value to the rest of the 
world.^^ 

Human nature is too imperfect to be trusted 
with absolute power; where this is given or 
taken it results in tyranny. A wise person will 
profit by the experience of others. All questions 
that are not settled by intelligence will be set- 
tled by ignorance, and this is not to be com- 
mended in whatever state we find it. As we are 
all possible presidents, it may not be out of or- 



29 

der to mention here the duties and qualifica- 
tions necessary for such officer. ''To serve suc- 
cessfully as a presiding officer a person sliould 
become familiar with parliamentary law and 
cheerfully set the example of conformity to 
its requirements. She should be of good 
presence^ good voice, of much firmness and 
good temper. A woman unfitted for the 
position does herself and the organization 
she represents great injuctice by accepting 
the office of president.'' But there is no 
valid reason why women today should be ignor- 
ant of the laws governing deliberative bodies. 
Physical culture and elocution are aids if any 
are required to good presence and voice. In 
fact, a woman may be whatever she has the im- 
pulse or power to become. The women of the 
twentieth century have no excuse for ignorance 
upon questions that experience has proved to be 
of so great value, not only in regulating, but a 
powerful instrument in producing the mighty 
civilization of the world. "She must write its 
pages with a record of progress, improvement 
and achievement thus far unequalled in the 
world's history." To be able to diffuse a gener- 
ous spirit throughout the assembly and yet to 



30 

decide all questions impartially should be her 
aim. "The creation of a healthy sentiment 
among the members is as important for success 
as the law of politeness is necessary to the com- 
fort and well being of the commimity/' With 
an efficient woman in the chair there will be no 
difficulty in preserving order in a well-disposed 
assembly. A writer of authority says : "To an 
enlargement of mind capable of embracing the 
most comprehensive subjects must be added the 
faculty of descending with precision to the most 
minute.^^ "A lack of promptness, clear percep- 
tion and self-possession is soon discovered, and 
the results are disastrous to good order." "While 
promptness is greatly to be desired, it is unwise 
to jump at conclusions, and when a presiding 
officer imds she has erred in a decision, it is far 
better to frankly acknowledge the error than to 
persist in maintaining it." "When an active 
member of an organization is made president 
she retains all the rights of membership, in- 
cluding the legal right, when not occupying the 
chair, to make motions, move amendments and 
take part in debate or discussion. But it is not 
considered good form for her to speak for or 
against any question before the meeting, and 



31 

what is even more important is any evidence of 
lack of judgment and tact on her part. Such a 
course greatly lessens her usefulness and in- 
fluence. She is expected to be the judge, not an 
attorney for either side; to see what the law 
is, and that it is justly administered. As soon 
as she leaves the chair to speak on either side, 
the other side at once loses confidence in her 
ability to rule impartially and fairly on the par- 
ticular question under discussion. Persistence 
in this course on the part of the presiding of- 
ficer gradually undermines and must eventually 
destroy the confidence of the members in her.'' 
"If this is true in the case of debate or dis- 
cussion, it is much more improper for her to 
make motions or move amendments. Take no- 
tice, there is another viewpoint. Where ethical 
truths, constitutional principles or vital ques- 
tions are at stake, then an able president with 
the courage of her convictions should choose loss 
of power, resignation or even expulsion from of- 
fice rather than fail to do all in her power for 
the right and best interest of the organization. 
However, the better plan is in such a case to 
personally enlist one or more members who will 
organize and conduct the campaign on the floor 



32 

in lier place. A presiding officer to be efficient 
must not only be impartial as between individ- 
uals, but must appear so. A few months in the 
chair tends to make a president impartial, and 
all its influences to keep her in a judicial frame 
of mind. Participation in the rough and tum- 
ble of debate has just the opposite effect. De- 
bate often produces hard feelings, gives rise to 
sharp expressions and even to personal enmities. 
I^one of these things tends to individual respect 
or esteem. In addition, the position of presid- 
ing officer is one of great power. The president 
can not when she takes the floor divest herself 
of that power and influence as a representative 
of the whole body. You can readily see that 
it would be unfair for her to take sides in a 
debate. She should treat all members as equals 
of each other and of herself, and should decline 
all personal disputes. The rights of each mem- 
ber are based upon the doctrine of equality with 
every other member. She has therefore a right 
to present her propositions and to debate them 
fully. But as the right of each member leaves 
off where the rights of others begin, there must 
be a mutual forbearance between each member 
and the assembly." There is no place save in 



33 

the home circle in which good nature and a 
courteous bearing toward associates is so much 
needed as in a deliberative assembly. She who 
knows her rights and is able to maintain them, 
yet with imiform politeness, having the altruis- 
tic principle, is the model parliamentarian. "x\ 
popular member and speaker is one who keeps 
quiet unless she has something new and impor- 
tant to say, who comes to the point at once and 
stops when she has said enough.'' Some people 
do not know enough to stop even when they have 
gotten through. She does not antagonize unnec- 
essarily, does not exhibit too much fervor, and 
yet is not prosy, does not let proceedings drag 
for want of some one to offer or second motions 
when needed. 

We must not make a fetich of parliamentary 
law, must not be too exacting in having laws en- 
forced, neither be too lax. There is more dan- 
ger, I think, of our being too careless rather 
than too careful. "A good parliamentarian, 
while always in order herself, does not make too 
much of mere form, but does her part to make 
the business run smooth, rapid and satisfactory. 
In fact, she does the right thing, at the right 
time, in the right way. Constant care as to 



34 

what, when and how is a sure secret of success. 
It is the duty of each member to maintain or- 
der. When a point of order is raised, only those 
should speak whose advice is asked by the chair." 
"Ill-advised efforts to assist the chair in main- 
taining order only adds to the confusion." 



CLASS ADDRESS 

No. 1. 

PARLIAMENTAEY PRACTICE. 

It is necessary that we have an intelligent 
understanding of the events that gave birth to 
the system of parliamentary law if one wishes 
to fully comprehend its importance, and we 
must be made aware of the circumstances that 
have contributed to the formation and original 
nature of law, and this we can not do without 
knowing something of the changes it has un- 
dergone. 

"Law has been gradually extending through 
every department of knowledge." (I am quot- 
ing from Henry Drummond.) "The natural law 
has been discovered even in the spiritual world; 
and has been both defined and applied." 

The reign of law was never more to the an- 
cients than a far-off vision. With Copernicus, 
Galileo and Kepler, the first regular lines of 
the universe began to be discovered. The dis- 
covery of gravitation by Newton was another 
demonstration that law was a fact. The pursuit 



36 

of law became the passion of science. Wliat 
the discovery of law has done for nature it is 
impossible to estimate, and it can do much for 
us if we give it an opportunity. 

In these laws one stands face to face with 
truth, solid and unchangeable. The laws of na- 
ture are simply statements of the orderly con- 
ditions of things. "Order was God's first law.'^ 

The history of parliamentary law goes back 
to very early times. It may be defined as that 
system of rules prescribed by the usage of as- 
semblies for their guidance in the transaction 
of such business as may come before them. 

It may not be uninteresting to you to follow 
me in viewing some of the beginnings of the 
people's awakening to the necessity of written 
law, as no one can realize the remarkable 
changes they have undergone and what has 
led to them without a knowledge of their his- 
tory. 

Myers: It has been truly said that "One of 
the most fascinating studies of recent growth 
is that which reveals to us the beliefs and cus- 
toms of our Aryan forefathers, in which we 
discover the germs of many of the institutions 
of the classic Greeks and Eomans, and to trace 



37 

the origin of their senates and the national par- 
liaments of later times." 

The laws and customs of the Spartans have 
excited more interest perhaps than any similar 
institutions of the ancient world. A mystery 
and halo were thrown about them by their being 
attributed to the creative genius of a single law- 
giver, LycLirgus, who lived about the ninth cen- 
tury. He acquainted himself with the laws and 
customs of different lands, studied with great 
zeal the laws of Minos, the legendary lawgiver 
of the Cretans. Like the great legislator, Moses, 
he became learned in all the wisdom of the 
Egyptians. After much opposition a system of 
law^s and regulations drawn up by Lycurgus 
was adonted by the Spartan people, then, bind- 
ing his countrymen by a solemn oath that they 
would carefully observe his laws during his ab- 
sence, he set out to consult the Oracle at Delphi. 
In response to his inquiry, the oracle assured 
him that Sparta would endure and prosper so 
long as the people obeyed the laws he had given 
them. Lycurgus caused this message to be car- 
ried to his countrymen, and then, that they 
might rem^ain bound by the oath they had taken, 



he resolved never to return^ and went into an 
unknown exile. 

It is a proverb that ^^constitutions grow, and 
are not made/^ "Circnmstances were the real 
creators of all laws and institutions; nor were 
they the creations of an hour, the fruit of a 
happy inspiration. All the events of early con- 
quests, the toil, danger and hardships which the 
Dorian warriors endured in the subjugation of 
the land, the prudence and watchfulness nec- 
essary to the maintaining themselves as con- 
querors, helped to determine the unusual and 
harsh character of the laws and regulations of 
the Spartan state. The work of Lycurgus was 
not that of a new creation. Back of him lay a 
long period of growth and development. His 
labor was that of a wise and far-seeing states- 
man, whose work it was to modify and shape al- 
ready existing habits and customs into rule and 
law; to make additions and improvements; to 
anticipate growing tastes and tendencies. The 
very fact that the legislation of Lycurgus was 
adopted and became the system of a state shows 
that it must have been simply the outgrowth 
of customs and regulations already familiar, 
and consequently acceptable to at least a large 



39 

party among the Spartans; the legend symbol- 
izes the inviolability of the constitution. Three 
lands claim to hold his clnst^ and the Spartans 
in after years perpetuated his memory and their 
own gratitude by temples and sacrifices in Jiis 
honor. 

"That the Spartan constitution was admirably 
adapted to the rearing of a nation of skillful 
and resolute warriors^ the long military suprem- 
acy of Greece abundantly attests; but when we 
consider the aim and object of the Spartan in- 
stitutions we must pronounce them low and im- 
worthy. Government exists for the individual. 
At Sparta the individual lived for the state. The 
body is intended to be the instrument of the 
mind. The Spartans reversed this order and at- 
tended to the education of the mind only so far 
as its development enhanced the effectiveness of 
the body as a weapon of warfare. Spartan his- 
tory teaches how easy it is for a nation, like 
the individual, to misdirect its energies, to sub- 
ordinate the higher to the lower. It illustrates, 
too, the fact that only those nations that labor 
to develop that which is best and highest in 
man make helpful contributions to the progress 
of the world. Sparta, in significant contrast to 



40 

Athens, bequeathed nothing of value to poster- 
ity. During the Heroic Age Athens was ruled 
by kings like all other Grecian cities. Throngh- 
out these early times the common people had 
no part in the management of public affairs. 
As they grew in intelligence and wealth, how- 
ever, they naturally aspired to a place in the 
government. Therefore, because of their 
wretched economic condition, as well as because 
of their exclusion from the government, the com- 
moners were filled with bitterness against the 
nobles and were ready for revolution. To meet 
the demands of the people the nobles appointed 
one of their own number, Draco, to remodel the 
constitution and draw up a code of laws. Tra- 
dition says that this legislator assigned to the 
least ofiense the death penalty. The severity 
of these laws made them so hated that they were 
said to have been written ^not in ink, but in 
blood.' Draco, an Athenian lawgiver, ^ and 
Archon, one of the chief magistrates, nine in 
number, who had charge of religious and civil 
customs in ancient Athens, was the author of the 
first written code of laws which resulted in the 
establishment of a court of appeals ; that of the 
Ephatrae. 



41 



FIRST COURT OF APPEALS. 

Deut. 17 : 8-9. 

The pinciple of appeal was recognized by the 
Mosaic law in the establishment of a central 
court "under the presidency of the judge or ruler 
for the time being, before which all cases too 
difficult for the local courts were to be tried. 
According to the above regulations, the appeal 
lay in the time of the Judges — to the judge — ■ 
Judges 4 : 5 — and under the monarchy, to the 
king, who deputized certain persons to inquire 
into the facts in the case, and record his decision 
thereon. 2nd Sam. 15 : 3. Deborah, wife of 
Lapidoth, was judge at this time. 

Jehosaphat delegated his judicial authority 
to a court permanently established for the pur- 
pose. 2nd Chron. 19 : 8. 

These courts were re-established by Ezra, 7: 
25. 

After the institution of the Sanhedrin tlie 
final appeal lay to them. St. Paul, as a Roman 
citizen, exercised a right of appeal from the ju- 
risdiction of the local court at Jerusalem to 
the emperor. Acts 25: 11. Since the proced- 
ure in the Jewish courts at that period was of a 



42 

mixed and imdefiiied character^ St. Paul availed 
himself of his undoubted privilege to be tried 
by the pure Eoman lav/. Moses^ as you know, is 
called the great law giver. He was ^^educated 
in all the wisdom of the Egyptians^ and became 
mighty in word and deed.'' "Up to this time 
he v/as considered an Egyptian ; but the time at 
last arrived when he resolved to claim his na- 
tionality; this was brought about by seeing one 
of his countrymen, an Israelite, suffering the 
bastinado from an Egyptian, and, thinking they 
were alone, he slew the Egyptian and buried his 
corpse in the sand; as he was going about the 
next day he met two Israelites who were quarrel- 
ing with each other; he interfered and endeav- 
ored to reconcile them ; upon which one of them 
rudely asked him what he wanted, and whether 
he intended to kill either of them as he had the 
Egyptian the day before. Moses felt it neces- 
sary to flee the country. 

It was this event that sent him into the 
desert, where amid the solitude he was free, 
while his mind was creative and at its best, to 
ponder upon the eternal laws of justice and 
right, government and education, took their rise 
in his single brain ; and the common v/ealth today 



43 

rests upon foundations reared by this jurist of 
the desert; and when he had achieved freedom 
for his people he led them into the desert and 
taught them the principles of law, liberty and 
government." 

The sixth and seventh centuries constitute a 
period sociologically by the incarnation of 
Christ in the Eoman code of Justinian, the 
cornerstone of our '^common law" and of our 
civilization. That code, like the later ones of 
Charlemagne and Alfred, began with the Deca- 
logue, to which our politics owes allegiance l^e- 
cause it is a part of our common law. 

"Nations like men have their mission ; Eome's 
mission was to give laws to the world." This 
was accomplished by the Emperor Justinian, 
who caused a revision and compressed collec- 
tion of all the laws, opinions and decisions of 
the most eminent of the old Roman jurists and 
lawyers to be made. The "Body of the Roman 
Law," thus preserved and transmitted, was the 
great contribution of the Latin intellect to civ- 
ilization. It has exerted a profound influence 
upon all the law systems of Europe. "The re- 
ligion of Judea, the arts of Greece, and the laws 



44 

of Eome are three ver}^ real and potent elements 
in modern civilization." 

Napoleon Bonaparte also caused the laws of 
France to be revised and harmonized, producing 
the celebrated "Code Napoleon/^ a work that is 
not unworthy of comparison with the Corpus Ju- 
ris Civilis of the Emperor Justinian. It swept 
away iniquitous, oppressive customs, and is to- 
day the framework of law in France, Holland, 
Belgium, Western Germany, Switzerland and 
Italy. "Had Napoleon done nothing else save 
to give this code to Europe he would have con- 
ferred an inestimable benefit on mankind.^' 

"Historians trace the beginning of the Senates 
of Greece and Eome, and the national parlia- 
ments of later times, to the X^ouncils of Elders' 
around the village patriarch. Social life had ad- 
vanced to that stage where the family was the 
unit of society. The father was the priest and 
absolute monarch of his house. The families 
w^ere united to form village commimities, ruled 
by a chief or patriarch, assisted by the 'Council 
of Elders.' The old Roman Senate was an as- 
sembly of citizens distinguished by birth, dig- 
nities, wealth and influence, who were invested 
with a share in the government, more often 



45 

elected or appointed from among the nobles hav- 
ing supreme legislative authority and to whom 
was entrusted the execution and control of af- 
fairs." These Senators wore a long, loose gar- 
ment called a toga, from which fashion comes 
the robe of black silk worn by our Supreme 
Court Judges while on the bench. Self-control 
is said to be the true senatorial toga — the badge 
of the dignity it covers. 

The word '^ermine," applied to the judicial 
office, comes from the cleanly characteristics of 
a small animal by that name which would die 
rather than permit its snowy whiteness stained 
by the least impurity, and so the man who as- 
sumes the office of a judge was in olden times 
supposed to be far above the corrupting in- 
fluences which so often overcome and pervert the 
good intentions of the average specimen of ge- 
nus homo. 

In the "Last Days of Pompeii" we read of the 
Temple of Jupiter, the Senator's Hall of meet- 
ing, where the magistrates administered what 
they called justice, a very different thing from 
what is termed justice today. The inhabitants 
of Pompeii who were saved declared that it was 
because of "the presence of Christians in the city 



46 

that it was destroyed by the earthquake." They 
declared Christians to be the enemies of man- 
kind and declared them to be the incendiaries 
who bnrnt Eome nnder Nero^ sayings "Woe to 
■QS if these fellows are to give the law to so- 
ciety/^ I am telling you this to draw your at- 
tention to the great changes that have taken 
place in public opinion during the centuries, and 
that these changes for the benefit of mankind 
have been brought about by the very people 
who were accused of being the authors of the 
most dire calamities, the followers of the meek 
and lowly Jesus, and to prove to you that 
obedience to acknowledged authority of laws 
both natural and spiritual will bring forth hap- 
piness and security. 

China and Eg}^pt are said to be the oldest 
civilizations of the world. "The Emperor of 
China dare not rule tyrannically; he must rule 
justly and in accordance with established rules 
and ancient laws and customs." One of these 
ancient laws reads thuswise : "Honor thy father 
and thy mother that thy days may be long in 
the land." The Chinese claim that they took 
this law from the moral system of Confuscius, 



47 

which makes filial obedience and a conformit}^ 
to ancient customs primary virtues. 

China is the oldest nation upon the earth that 
is still a reigning power, and stands a living 
monument of obedience to law^ It has exalted 
family life among them, and has given won- 
derful stability to Chinese society. Chinese chil- 
dren are said to be the most obedient and rever- 
ential to parents of any children in the universe. 
But along with much good, great evil has come 
from this blind, servile following of the past. 
In doing this, they have failed to keep up with 
the march of civilization. They have no orig- 
inality; are mere imitators, and are making 
very little progress. Their fixed and established 
customs have a near resemblance to laws, but 
are not the work of legislators. They may be 
likened to the traditions, manners and customs 
that have bound the minds of the majority of 
our women as with bands of iron, like the great 
wall surrounding China, preventing progress 
among them in some most important directions 
for ages. Women have been hedged about ever 
since the creation of mankind by restricting cus- 
toms. 

Another example of filial obedience that had 



48 

the approval of and was rewarded by the Great 
Euler of the Universe is recounted in the thirty- 
fifth chapter of Jeremiah : The Lord told the 
proj)het Jeremiah to "Go unto the honse of the 
Eechabites and speak nnto them, and bring them 
into the house of the Lord ; and give them wine 
to drink." The prophet did as the Lord com- 
manded; I use his phrasing, "And I set before 
the sons of the house of the Eechabites pots full 
of wine and cups, and I said unto them, Drink 
ye wine. But they said. We will drink no wine, 
for Jonadab, our father, commanded us, saying. 
Ye shall drink no wine, neither ye, nor your 
sons, forever; thus have we obeyed our father 
and done all that our father commanded us." 
"And the Lord of hosts, the God of Israel, 
spake to these men. Because ye have obeyed the 
commandment of Jonadab your father, and kept 
all his precepts and done according unto all 
that he hath commanded you, therefore Jonadab 
shall not want a man to stand before me for- 
ever.^' Obedience to law always brings its own 
reward. 

Law is called the first of human sciences. The 
whole universe would be chaos were it not for 
law. Justinian reduces the whole doctrine of 



49 

law to three principles: "Live honestly; hurt 
nobody; and give to every man his just dues.'' 
The general principles of parliamentary law 
requires that an assembly should reach its de- 
cisions on matters that come before it in the or- 
der prescribed by their introduction, after full 
debate and amendment, in accordance with es- 
tablished rules, and these requirements are of 
such importance that unless two-thirds of the 
members desire it they can not be permitted to 
disregard or alter them. 

ORGANIZATION. 

The object which a body of people has in 
view, when it assembles for the purpose of or- 
ganization, is to provide itself with means 
whereby it may express its opinions, facilitate 
and control its actions, and thereby accomplish 
the purpose of the meeting. Whatever these may 
be, the purposes can only be effected by ascer- 
taining the sense or will of those forming it. 
in reference to the several subjects submitted 
to it, and by embodying that sense or will in an 
intelligible, authentic and authoritative form. 
The organization must therefore be adapted to 
the nature of the work to be done. 



50 

Before entering upon the subject of the forms 
and rules of proceeding in the transaction ot 
business^ it is necessary to consider certain 
matters of a preliminary nature which are more 
or less essential to the regularity^ dispatch and 
efficiency of proceedings. 

In order that intelligent and effective expres- 
sion may be given to the duties and usages of 
deliberative assemblies^ it is important, in the 
first place, that the assembly should be properly 
constituted, so that it may be laiown who has 
the right to participate in the proceedings, and, 
secondly, there should be certain rules estab- 
lished for the proper conduct of business. If all 
the proceedings met with the approval or disap- 
proval of members, and could be decided by 
vote, yes or no, there would be small need 
for rules, but this is not the case; there are 
many propositions made that can not be dis- 
posed of in this way. 

When a subject is proposed the assembly may 
be unwilling to consider it, or act upon it at all, 
or it may wish to postpone the act, or, if acted 
upon, may wish to reconsider the vote, hence the 
need of established rules of procedure, which 



51 

are denominated parliamentary^ meaning cor- 
rect. 

Organization is of two kinds, temporary and 
permanent. At the appointed time the one who 
has sent out the call for a meeting rises and 
calls to order. She is presumed to know more 
about the object for which the call was made 
and states it, and announces: "We are now 
ready for organization." Some one rises and 
moves that "Mrs. A. act as chairman of this 
meeting." This must be seconded. If Mrs. A. 
is the one who has called the meeting to order, 
the mover of the motion puts it to vote, as fol- 
lows : "It has been moved and seconded that 
Mrs. A. act as chairman of this meeting. All 
those in favor say, 'Aye.' " xA.fter the vote is 
taken : "Those opposed say, 'Xo,' " announcing 
the result. 

Courtesy demands that under some conditions 
a negative vote should not be called for. For 
instance, a motion for a vote of thanks to some 
one present. The elected chairman takes the 
chair and says : "The first business in order is 
the election of a secretary." Any one may nom- 
inate. The election then proceeds, as in the case 
of the chairman. These are the only officers 



52 

needed in a temporary organization. The chair 
announces that: "We are now ready for busi- 
ness. What is the pleasure of the assembly.'^ 
A member rises^ addresses the chair as '"jiadam 
Chairman/" and waits for recognition. After ob- 
taining the floor she says : "I move that a com- 
mittee of three be appointed to draft a constitu- 
tion and by-laws." This must be seconded. The 
chair says : "It has been moved and seconded 
that a committee of three be appointed to draft 
a constitution and by-laws; how shall the com- 
mittee be appointed?'^ 

The response by the members is^ "By the 
chair/^ usually ; sometimes the chair asks the as- 
sembly to nominate^ and they are elected viva 
voce. This is the only business transacted at this 
first meeting. The time and place of nexti 
meeting must be arranged for. A motion to ad-' 
journ is then made. The person making this- 
motion must "obtain the floor/' and it must bei 
seconded; stated by the chair; put to vote as; 
any other motion^ and the result announced be-: 
fore a meeting is adjourned. 



53 



SECOND MEETING. 



. Only those who intend to join should be pres- 
ent. Chairman and secretary in their respective 
places. Chairman, standing, calls to order, and 
says: "We will now hear the reading of the 
minutes." The secretary reads the minutes of 
last meeting. Chairman always stands when 
putting a motion or speaking, unless upon oc- 
casion from some physical disability. "You have 
heard the reading of the minutes. Are there 
any corrections? If not, they stand approved." 
If there are corrections, they are made when the 
chair asks the question. 

Never use the word objections wiien you mean 
corrections, for no one has a right to object to 
the minutes as read. 

Eobert, p. 27 — "After approval, without re- 
consideration, it is in order at any future time 
for the society to further correct them, regard- 
less of the time that has elapsed, and the num- 
ber of times they have already been amended.'' 

The minutes should be written out from the 
original notes, and read at the next meeting 
for correction and adoption before being copied 
into the record book. The minutes must always 



54 

be signed by the person who took them either as 

Miss or Mrs. , Secretary, or Secretary pro 

tern. 

Chairman : "The next business in order is the 
report of the committee on constitution and by- 
laws/"^ 

When a committee that has been appointed to 
prepare a constitution and by-laws is ready to 
report, a written report should be made as fol- 
lows : 

"Yonr committee appointed to prepare a con- 
stitution and by-laws would respectfully submit 
the following report, which they believe covers 
every point necessary for the proper conduct of 
any business that may be brought before this 
Ksociety and would recommend that they be 
adopted as the constitution and by-laws of this 
organization/^ The president then asks : "What 
will you do with the report of the committee?" 
A member gains the floor and moves that the 
report of the committee be accepted, and the 
constitution and by-laws reported by the com- 
mittee be adopted as the governing power of this 
society, after such amendments as may be found 
necessary to meet the wishes of two-thirds of 
the members. This must be seconded. 



55 

The presiding officer then says: '^^You have 
heard the motion (repeating it). The question 
is on the adoption of the constitution and by- 
laws reported by the committee^ and it will now 
be read by articles and sections, and amend- 
ments to each are in order, and may be adopt- 
ed when read." The chairman (receiving a 
nod from the chair) will then read the first ar- 
ticle, pausing. Chair: "Are any amendments 
proposed to this article?" After a pause, if 
no amendment is made, the sections are read, and 
so on through the whole constitution, opportu- 
nity being given for amendment of each. After 
the reading and consideration seriatim has l)een 
completed, the chair says: "The entire consti-" 
tution, having been read and amended (if any), 
it is now open for further amendment." 

At this point amendments may ])e offered to 
any part of the constitution, but they can not 
be applied so as to destroy the effect of any pre- 
vious amendment; the adoption of an amend- 
ment being a decision by the society that such 
portion as amended shall stand as a part of the 
constitution finally offered for adoption, and 
this decision can not "be changed by subsequent 
amendment, but by reconsideration of the vote." 



56 

that made the amendment a part of the consti- 
tution. After fnll amendment, the chair asks : 
"Are you ready for the question?" Pausing a 
moment. Members respond, "Question !" The 
chair puts the motion : "Those in favor of the 
adoption of this constitution as the governing 
power of this society say, ^Aye/ contrary, ^No/ 
announcing the result. 

Chairman : "Tlie constitution having been 
adopted, it will be necessary for all who wish 
to become members to sign the constitution, pay 
initiation fee, if any, and dues. "Those who sign 
the constitution at this meeting are called Char- 
ter Members. If those who desire to become 
members can not be present at this initial meet- 
ing, their names may be signed at their request, 
and they become charter members. It is custo- 
mary to have a recess at this time, and the chair 
can ask some one to make such motion. After 
the constitution has been signed the meeting is 
called to order, and chairman says : "The busi- 
ness next in order is the adoption of the by- 
laws.'' Only those can vote who have signed the 
constitution. 

It is not necessary for subsequent members to 
sign the constitution, they, by the act of join- 



57 

ing, pledged themselves to uphold the society 
in every way. The by-laws are read one by one 
and treated in the same way as the constitution. 
Chairman : "The business next in order is 
the election of the permanent officers of this so- 
ciety (see elections on page 135). domina- 
tions are now in order." The constitution should 
direct how nominations should be made and 
should be followed. As soon as the permanent 
officers are elected they take the place of the tem- 
porary officers. The one who has acted as chair- 
man may be the choice for president and the sec- 
retary pro tem. may be elected as recording sec- 
retary. A corresponding secretary and a treas- 
urer are now necessary. (It is never a good 
plan to have these offices combined in one per- 
son.) Some organizations elect a vice-president 
at large, or from one to three vice-presidents, or 
the president may appoint her vice-president at 
large. If the society is one that expects to own 
real estate, it should be incorporated accordiiig 
to the laws of the State in which it is situated. 
A lawyer should be consulted for this purpose. 
The organization being now completed, it is 
ready for business and should at once enter 
upon its duties. 



58 



I^OMINATION NOT ACCEPTED. 

When a member is nominated from the floor 
and does not wish to accept, the correct form 
of conveying this intelligence to the person nom- 
inating her, and to the assembly, is as follows : 
(Obtaining the floor.) "Madam President, I 
will be obliged to decline the nomination,'^ stat- 
ing the reason therefor briefly, thanking the 
member for the courtesy and requesting that the 
nomination be withdrawn. Chairman: "Yon 

have heard the request of Mrs. for the 

withdrawal of her nomination; will Mrs. Blank 
withdraw the nomination?" 

If the reasons given are considered good and 
sufficient, the mover may, with the consent of 
her second, withdraw the nomination, but is not 
compelled to do so. This is in cases where the 
custom prevails of seconding nominations — 
which is not necessary — but, being custom, 
is the unwritten law of the assembly. Nomina- 
tion by ballot causes the least friction and is 
acknowledged to be the most satisfactory 
method. 



59 



BALLOT CAST BY SECEETARY. 

When a motion to make the election of a can- 
didate unanimous, and that the secretary be re- 
quested to cast the ballot for the assembly elect- 
ing Mrs. as president, or to other office, 

it must be understood to be only a motion as to 
how the ballot shall be cast, this must be sec- 
onded, and the chair must allow the assembly 
to vote upon it the same as any other motion, as 
all may not be in favor of this method of elec- 
tion. It can not be done if there is one dissent- 
ing voice, for the motion was to have it unani- 
mous. 

There is, however, no valid reason why this 
should not be done, as the majority have already 
expressed themselves in nomination, and majori- 
ties must rule in this democratic republic. This 
method saves time, and is the expressed opinion 
of the assembly. 

I.NCOEEECT FOEM OF EFFUSING A 
NOMINATION. 

Madam President: "I wish to resign my 
nomination in favor of Mrs. (another candi- 
date.)'' This is in direct opposition to parlia- 



60 

mentary usage; to the rights of the assembly, 
and unjust to the member who has honored the 
lady with her preference. A nomination can not 
be resigned; the correct word to use is decline. 

]^o one can decline in ''favor' of another, as 
no one has a right to give away the vote of an- 
other. The persons who voted for the first named 
might be directly opposed to the second. 

Parliamentary terms and forms should al- 
ways be used, as this is correct speech. 

"In a sense there is nothing in all the great 
rmiverse but law. It is a rule of action pre- 
scribed by superior power which the inferior is 
bound to obey. Law is the perfection of reason, 
and that which is not reason is not law." — ■ 
Blackstone. 

In the phrase of Montesquieu and Dunlop : 
"The substance of any science consists of certain 
elementary rules or first principles which, as 
they are generally the pure dictates of reason, 
and short and simple in their phraseology, find 
an easy access to the mind. These rules are' 
necessarily numerous, and with their exceptions 
constitute the entire learning of any science." 

"A settled rule of action, a governing law of 
conduct, an opinion or belief which exercises a 



61 

directing influence on the life and behavior — 
our principles — glide almost imperceptibly into 
the mind, and, once settled in the memory be- 
cause fully comprehended, is not liable to for- 
sake us; hence the rules which have been re- 
peatedly tested by reason and successfully ap- 
plied to an infinite variety of cases, and finally 
adopted as principles, have a particular conge- 
niality with the mind and are welcomed to the 
memory as the offspring of causes, reasons, 
powers and laws/' 

"We must realize the fact that there exists 
within us fo7' our development the germ of every 
greatness and the seed of every transcendent 
power; that the only limit to what we may be is 
what we ivill to he." "What we do is transacted 
on a stage of which all the world are spectators. 
What we say is transmitted in echoes that never 
cease. What we are is influencing and acting on 
the rest of mankind." 

"ISTeutral we can not be; living we act and 
dead we speak." 

"Every day is a fresh beginning, 

Every day is the world made new; 
You who are weary of sorrow and sinning. 
Here is a beautiful hope for you ; 
A hope for me and a hope for you." 



62 



HOW TO MANAGE THE PRINCIPAL MO- 
TION. 

My object is to so interpret the rules of gen- 
eral parliamentary law in sncli a way that the 
system may be readily comprehended by those 
who may be called upon to 'preside over meetings 
of deliberative bodies^ and by those who take 
part in the proceedings. Every member of an 
organization should understand this system. As 
we are all possible presidents^ the importance 
of this training can be readily seen. All busi- 
ness must be brought before an assembly by a 
motion; this motion is called the principal mo- 
tion^ because of its importance, as no business 
can be entertained unless introduced by a prin- 
cipal motion, and to distinguish it from other 
motions that do not introduce business, but re- 
late to the manner by which it shall be dis- 
posed of. 

Motion in a parliamentary sense, is a desire 
or wish to make a proposal or proposition. 

A motion that has been made, seconded and 
stated by the chair becomes the main question 
before the house, and is said to be pending, as 
it is awaiting the decision of the assembly. 



63 

Business must be brought before the society 
by a member. Even the presiding officer must 
not present business for a non-member for ac- 
tioUj as this would confer upon outsiders the 
attributes of membership and would be unfair 
to members. She may state the matter if re- 
quested^ but if a majority of the members pres- 
ent are opposed to any action being taken it can 
not be done. 

ITS OBJECT. 

These laws are for the general advantage, 
and for this reason are binding upon every indi- 
vidual, as such regulations are absolutely essen- 
tial to the existence and well being of any or- 
ganization. ''All law arose from necessity, and 
became the custom and habit of the people, and 
was handed down by tradition and practice, 
and, having become venerated by long use, has 
become the fixed law of the land." 

''Common law derives its force and authority 
from the universal consent and practice of the 
people. Never having received the sanction of 
the legislature by an express act, it is the un- 
ivritten law/' "having been used so long that the 
mind of man runneth not to the contrary,'' has 



gained the force of law. That which is com- 
mon to the whole comitry. 

"The will of the people as it is gathered from 
long-established custom and from the expression 
of legislative power has gradually formed a sys- 
tem^ just, because it is the deliberate will of a 
free people; stable, because it is the growth of 
centuries; progressive, because it is amenable 
to the constant revision of the people/* 

This is parliamentary law as used in all de- 
liberative bodies. 

CONSTITUTION^. 

''What is iJie object of a constitution? It is 
to guard the rights and liberties of members, and 
to point out their rights and privileges; pre- 
scribes the power and duties of officers, and 
places needed restraints upon members. All 
members have equal rights, and in joining a so- 
ciety thereby pledge themselves to abide by these 
provisions, which have been agreed upon by all, 
at its organization, when its constitution was 
adopted.^^ 

''What is a constitution? It is a fundamental 
law upon which an organization stands. The 
foundation of a house represents the constitu- 



65 

tion ; the by-laws are represented by the internal 
arrangements. If the foundation is imdermined 
the structure will fall; hence the constitution 
can not be suspended even by unanimous vote, 
or consent, as the society would by that act be- 
dissolved/^ 

WHAT CONTAINED IN CONSTITUTION". 

Art. 1. Name. 

Art. 2. Object. 

Art. 3. Membership. 

Art. 4. Officers and Duties. 

Art. 5. Management. 

Art. 6. Elections and Nominations. 

Art. 7. Dues. 

Art. 8. Quorum. 

Art. 9. Amendments. 

The Constitution contains only that which is 
essential to permanent organization and should 
be amended only when notice of the proposed 
amendment is given a certain definite period' 
prior to a quarterly or annual meeting. 

The by-laws should include additional rules, 
not so important as to be part of the consti- 
tution, yet of so much consequence that no sin- 



66 

gle meeting should have the power to change 
them. 

It requires a two-thirds vote to amend either 
constitution or by-laws. 

As it is desirable that all should become fa- 
miliar with parliamentary laws^ it is well to put 
them in practise by adopting as few special 
rules as practicable and consistent with the ob- 
jects of the society. 

The manner of conducting business should 
be left to "Eules of Order.'' 

STAKDIXG RULES. 

In addition to the constitution, by-laws and 
rules of order, there are standing rules. These 
may be adopted by majority vote at any meet- 
ing. After adoption they can not be modified 
at the same session except by a reconsideration. 
At any future session they may be suspended, 
modified or rescinded. 

They are also called special rules and are of 
the highest authority. These may be adopted 
like ordinary motions without previous notice, 
but must never conflict with the constitution, 
by-laws or rules of order. 



67 

Reed is my authority for the statement that 
you will find that no set of rules is perfectly 
adapted to every organization. After expe- 
rience modifications are most always found to be 
necessary, and these the assembly are compe- 
tent to make. Such changes may be made by 
a majority, even if the rules already adopted 
provide that two-thirds or any larger number 
alone can make the changes. The assembly can 
not deprive itself of the power to direct its 
method of doing business. It is like a woman 
promising herself that she will not change her 
mind, and you can see at a glance how per- 
fectly absurd that would be. "By unanimous 
consent, an assembly may do anything it is com- 
petent to do, and that notwithstanding any rule, 
of regulation, or provision of parliamentary law 
to the contrary." 

Under some circumstances it may seem ad- 
visable to take some action which, while desir- 
able in this particular instance, is contrary to 
the established rules of the assembly. In such 
case the conflicting rule may be suspended and 
the proposed action taken. This applies only 
to standing rules and rules of order. 



68 

Unless the rules themselves provide for their 
own suspension they can be suspended by unani- 
mous consent only. If suspension is provided 
for it must be by a two-thirds majority^ and 
for a definite purpose, for rules would have 
no permanency, if a bare majority could change 
them at will. 



SUSPE^TSIOX OF EULES. 

It is necessary that the question of suspen- 
sion of rules when raised should be disposed of 
at once and finally by a direct vote upon it. 

It can not be reconsidered, nor can any sub- 
sidiary motion be applied to it, since if it were 
permitted to be postponed, or committed, it 
would leave the question out of which the sus- 
pension arose unsettled during the time of post- 
ponement, or commitment. 

Can not be debated, as the propriety should 
be evident without debate. 

If lost, this motion can not be renewed at 
the same meeting, but may be made at another 
meeting, even if occurring on the same day. 



69 

The constitution and by-laws can not be sus- 
pended even by unanimous consent. 

"It is a fundamental principle of parliamen- 
tary law that a decision, direct or implied, upon 
any matter, when once made, shall not be dis- 
turbed, and no motion or amendment, already 
voted upon, can be again brought up at the 
same session, trusting that a different decision 
may be rendered. Endless confusion would re- 
sult, if every matter once decided could be 
called up again, by any member, who was dissat- 
isfied with the former decision.^' 

"The code of parliamentary procedure is a 
valuable aid in the dispatch of business; but it 
must be understood that the constitution, by- 
laws and rules of order adopted by a delibera- 
tive body contain all the law governing them.'' 

PRESENTING BUSINESS. 

The member wishing to present business, or 
speak, must rise, address the chair, as Madam 
President, and wait to be recognized. This is: 
Obtaining the floor, i. e., the right to speak to 
the whole house, unless you wait to be recog- 
nized by the chair, another person rising, ad- 



70 

dressing the chair, and, waiting, might be rec- 
ognized, and yon would lose your chance. No 
one has a right to interrupt a member while 
speaking, unless by a ^^point of order,'' "ques- 
tion of privilege," "order of the day," "par- 
liamentary inquiry" or to "reconsider a vote 
to be placed upon the minutes." These are all 
"privileged motions," as they can interrupt a 
speaker and one is not obliged to "gain the 
floor," but rise, saying, "I rise to a point of or- 
der," or as the case may be. 

When a member has "gained the floor" she 
states the motion. This must be seconded, to 
show that more than one person is in favor of 
it. Seconding a motion does not require ob- 
taining the floor, or even rising, unless in a 
large assembly to prevent a non-member who 
has no right taking part in the proceedings. No 
attention is paid to a motion that is not sec- 
onded. 

It must now be stated verbatim by the 
chair and is ready for discussion. Opportunity 
must always be given for discussion, as during 
the progress of debate upon the subject it may 
become apparent that a decision upon it in its 
present form is not desirable, or it may be 



71 

thought best not to consider it at all; to post- 
pone it to some future time ; or to refer it to a 
committee for more careful attention ; or it may 
be found necessary to amend it^ in order that 
it ma}^ meet the views of a majority of mem- 
bers; the motions called "subsidiary" are used 
for this purpose; they take precedence of the 
"main question/' because they directly concern 
it, and are applied to it for the purpose of 
most appropriately disposing of it by obtaining 
in various ways the opinion of the assembly 
by other means than by adoption or rejection, 
yes or no. 

A motion is said to be pending when it is 
made, seconded and stated by the chair, and is 
awaiting the decision of the assembly. If an 
amendment is made, it is said to be "imme- 
diately pending," as it must be decided first. 

"While motion and resolution mean the same 
thing, it would be impossible to present some 
propositions in the simple form "^I move.' Mo- 
tions in parliamentary practice consist of pro- 
posals made or propositions offered. These 
words are from the Latin verb proponere, mean- 
ing ^to set forth,^ and as here compared they 
mark different forms or stages of a negotiation. 



72 

A proposition is something presented for discus- 
sion or consideration. A proposal is some def- 
inite thing offered by one party to be accepted 
or rejected by the other^ as, for instance, a pro- 
posal of marriage. If the proposition is favor- 
ably received it is usually followed by a pro- 
posal that completes the arrangement." — Gush- 
ing. 

When any proposition is made to a delibera- 
tive body it is called a motion. When it is stated 
for acceptance or rejection, it is denominated a 
question, and when adopted it becomes the or- 
der or vote of the assembly. Every motion con- 
sists of three parts : First, the subject, that is, 
what is the motion about? Second^ it must be 
expressed in parliamentary form. Third, the 
matter or words and their meaning, forming 
a complete proposition. 

The proposition which introduces business to 
an assembly for action is called a motion. This 
is the principal motion, called so to distin- 
guish it from those motions that do not intro- 
duce business. Other parliamentary motions 
relate to the manner by which this motion may 
be disposed of after it becomes the ^^main 
question before the house.^' (When made, sec- 



73 

onded and stated by the chair.) There are 
five classes of motions: Principal, subsidiary^ 
incidental, privileged and miscellaneous. There 
can be but one principal motion before an as- 
sembly at the same time. There are ten sub- 
sidiary motions. They take precedence of the 
principal motion — if they are needed at all — 
sometimes the main question can be decided by 
a vote in the affirmative or negative, and there 
is no use for these other motions, but when they 
are needed they prevent all friction, as cour- 
tesy demands that one yields to authority. 

"A resolution is a settled conviction, some- 
thing that has been decided upon, a determina- 
tion formed, and which one hopes to have 
adopted by presenting it to the assembly." 

FOEM OF PliESEXTI^^G A RESOLU- 
TION. 

"After obtaining the floor say, 'I move the 
adoption of the following resolution.' (Then 
read the resolution beginning. Resolved, that — ) 
This is then seconded by some other member. 
whereupon it should be stated by the chair as 
follows: ^It is moved and seconded to adopt 



74 

the following resolution (reading it herself or 
requesting the secretary to read it)'; or, ^Yon 
have heard the resolution; are there any re- 
marks?^ Time should always be given for dis- 
cussion. After discussion closes the chairman 
says : The question is on the adoption of the 
resolution/ stating it. (The same treatment 
necessary as for a motion.) 

"To adopt a resolution or motion requires 
only a majority vote. Majority means more 
than half of the members voting on the ques- 
tion, not a majority of those belonging to the 
organization, or of the members present and 
not voting."' — Eeed. The latter count in mak- 
ing a quorum for the transaction of business, 
but in nothing else. Where a vote is taken 
without a roll call many of those present do 
not vote. They should not be regarded as ab- 
sent for that reason; the supposition is rather 
that their silence gives consent to the action of 
the assembly. An officer elected by majority 
vote must receive more votes than all the other 
candidates combined. A plurality refers to the 
excess of the leading candidate's vote over that 
of her chief opponent. A majority vote is the 
one adopted as the safest method by Eobert, 
Eeed and Gushing." 



75 

EANK OF MOTIONS. 

No motion of lower rank can take precedence 
of one in higher rank; so you see the necessity 
of memorizing the motions in regular order of 
rank. First, privileged. Second, incidental. 
Third, subsidiary. There are miscellaneous mo- 
tions which this author would place among priv- 
ileged motions, but hesitates to change the or- 
der established by the dominant race. 

The motion that introduces business is called 
the principal motion, and, though mentioned 
last, is of great importance, as no society could 
accomplish business without it. The privileged 
motions are important, as there would be no so- 
ciety without them; they embody its beginning 
and ending, the "Order of the Day" — that is. 
what will be the programme for the day, and 
the system of police. 



76 

OFFICERS AND DUTIES. 

It is as important that a woman who accepts 
the position of presiding officer of any organi- 
zation or meeting should have as thorough a 
knowledge of parliamentary law, and must be as 
ready to give instruction upon any point of the 
law, such as what rule will reach this case, or 
what effect will such a rule have upon this mo- 
tion, as that a trial judge should have a knowl- 
edge of the law of evidence, or rulings on the 
admissibility of testimony, and must be im- 
mediate. 

These are matters that can not be taken un- 
der advisement. They demand instant decision 
There is no substitute for the S3^stematic study 
of parliamentary rules, to supply the accurate 
and ready knowledge that is demanded, remem- 
bering always that they are not a collection of 
arbitrary directions, but constitute a system of 
laws, based, as all laws are, upon reason, and 
that a knowledge of the reason is essential to a 
proper understanding of the law. 

The presiding officer is referred to as the 
Chair and so refers to herself; never I. She 
may vote if by ballot; to make or break a tie; 



77 

to make or break a two-thirds vote; and by roll 
call; this is yeas and nays. In the latter case 
her name must be called last, that she may not 
influence the vote. 

It is the duty of the presiding officer to en- 
force the rules and orders of the meeting with- 
out delay. It is also the right of every member 
who notices a breach of a rule to insist on its en- 
forcement. When a speaker has transgressed 
the rules of decorum she can not continue her 
remarks if any one objects unless 'permission is 
granted by a vote of the assembly, or a tie vote. 
Whenever a motion is made referring to the 
president the maker of the motion should put 
it to the vote. All remarks must be confined 
to the question before the assembly, avoiding all 
personalities and reflections upon any one's mo- 
tives. For the security of the rights of all 
members and to preve^it mistakes, it is impor- 
tant that any objectionable tvords that may be 
spoken by any member should at once be taken 
down and brought to the attention of the mem^ 
ber making them, as the substitution of or leav^ 
ing out a word alters the sense. 

By a strict adherence to rules, the minority 
can always be protected. There must be uni- 



7'8 

formity in the proceedings^ not subject to the 
caprice of the president or chairman of commit- 
tees^ or captionsness of members. "The presi- 
dent of an organization mnst not be a partisan, 
and nothing can justify her in taking part in a 
debate where much feeling is shown. The nn- 
fortnnate habit many presiding officers have of 
constantly speaking on questions before the as- 
sembly, even interrupting some members, is un- 
justifiable. She should not only be familiar 
with parliamentary usage, but should also set 
the example of strict conformity thereto. 

An excited president can not fail to cause^ 
trouble in a meeting. She will often find her- 
self perplexed with the difficulties attending her 
position. 

No one has a right to accept the position of 
presiding officer unless willing to forego taking; 
active part in debate, or being actively partisan^ 
in any other manner; should be unwilling to 
take advantage of any member's ignorance of 
parliamentary law, and should avoid making a 
display of her own knowledge. 

The official organ of the general federation 
of Women's Clubs, "The Club Woman,'' says : 

"Parliamentary law is doing much for worn- 



79 

en. It is slowly training them to argue imper- 
sonally and without loss of dignity. But in 
addition to a well-trained parliamentary mind 
there must be a broad, generous nature, a kind 
and loving heart.'' 

"Like great lawyers who come out of serious 
lawsuits where they have figured as bitter op- 
ponents with their friendship and good fellow- 
ship unimpaired, so must women be able to ex- 
press their differences of opinion, and to adopt 
opposing sides if need be without affecting the 
status of their personal relations each to the 
other." 

Personal feeling and personal prejudice will 
yield to laws that give power and control action. 

Experience has shown that "the assembly 
from the call to order to the close of the session 
should uphold its dignity and insist upon due 
respect on the part of all present, members and 
those not members. The right of self-preserva- 
tion belongs to assemblies as well as individuals, 
and every assembly has the right to protect 
itself from disorderly persons, whether members 
of the body or not, even to the extent of remov- 
ing them from the assembly room. And the law 
will justify the use of such force as may be 



80 

necessary in the removal of such persons, and 
members of the body may be expelled and 
deprived of membership in it.'' 

Each member should feel that as a part of 
the assembly any affront directed to it is an 
indignity offered to her, and it is simply due 
to her own self-respect that she render all the 
assistance in her power to the presiding officer, 
in her too often arduous duty in maintaining 
that order without which the proper transaction 
of business is impossible. 

Mrs. Benjamin: "It will be noticed some- 
times in a convention that delegates — to say 
nothing of visitors — conduct themselves in an 
unseemly manner, whispering, laughing, inat- 
tentive, transgressing all the rules of decorum^ 
Parliamentary law enjoins propriety of manner 
and conduct. Common sense and common 
courtesy Avould dictate a quiet watchfulness on 
the part of each member of an organization, or 
delegate; promptness in seconding motions, 
brevity and conciseness in debate, with constant 
effort to aid the chair in her responsible and 
ofttimes delicate task of presiding ^ver several 
hundred w^omen." 

"If each delegate should consider that the 



81 

good name of the organizations to which she 
belongs is imperiled by her transgressions she 
would be a little more particular." 

Parliamentary law reduces the actions of an 
assembly of people met to transact business to- 
intelligent order. It must be remembered, how- 
ever, that no assembly can deprive itself of 
power to direct its method of doing business. 
This means that in your constitution and by- 
laws provision must be made for conducting 
business. 

A knowledge and practice of these rules rev- 
olutionizes the entire thought and conduct. 

We can not leave the expression of our lives 
to those better qualified than we are, however 
dear they may be. 



82 



YICE-PRESIDEXT- -HEE QUALIFICA- 
TIONS AND DUTIES. 

It is generally thonglit that the office of vice- 
president is of very little consequence; that 
there is nothing for her to do if the president is 
present. This is a very mistaken idea. "The 
office of vice-president is eqnal in importance to 
any of the other f onr general officers of any or- 
ganization ; therefore the person elected to this 
office should never assume that it is an empty 
honor, for there are specific duties awaiting her. 
In the first place, a vice-president must be pre- 
pared for emergencies." A personal reminis- 
cence will serve to illustrate this. A lady who 
had been elected to this position in the Fourth 
District of the Texas Federation of Women's 
Clubs was inclined to regard it as of little im- 
portance, but at the first annual meeting in a 
neighboring town, after her election, she found 
upon entering the hall that the train on which 
the president was expected was several hours 
late and she was called on to preside, so, with 
no time for preparation and scarcely any knowl- 
edge of the programme, or how to proceed 
with the business, she was obliged to perform. 



83 

the duties of presiding officer. Because of these 
emergencies, which may arise at any time, a 
person elected to the office of vice-president 
should study parliamentary law and familiar- 
ize herself with the duties of the presiding of- 
ficer. She should keep herself informed on 
all lines of tlie work of the organization to 
which she belongs; in short, she should know 
everything that is important for the president 
to know. 

The vice-president can do everything that 
can be done which does not belong to the work 
of other officers, even assisting them if need 
be. Taking this view of the office, the vice- 
president should rise to the importance of her 
duties and prove a help to the president as well 
as to the organization which she serves. It 
should be understood, if possible, between the 
president and her vice, if she is to be absent, 
and instructions given her of what business is 
to be transacted — and of any that is liable to 
be brought up that is not on the regular pro- 
gramme. 



84 

OFFICEES. 

A recording secretary should have the power 
of concentrating her mind upon the business be- 
fore it^ and directing it into whatever channel 
the occasion may demand. There must be 
strength of ivill to take command of the mental 
faculties and make them subservient to its pur- 
pose. The secretary should have the habit of 
close attention to the business of the hour, and 
use wisdom and judgment in placing upon the 
minutes only the important business trans- 
acted. 

The minutes of a woman's meeting are neces- 
sarily different from those of the opposite sex, 
for the reason that the meetings themselves are 
of a different nature. It must be remem- 
bered that there were no women's clubs^ liter- 
ary or civic, art leagues, mothers' clubs of the 
public schools and numerous other organiza- 
tions of women until since what is called the 
Civil War. The W. C. T. U. was the first or- 
sranization formed exclusively of women, of 
which I have any knowledge. They soon found 
that their greatest need was the knowledge of 
parliamentary law, and a department of parlia- 



85 

mentary law was established, and a national su- 
perintendent appointed, and through Mrs. A. 
S. Benjamin, Lillian Cole Bethel and others, 
studies, leaflets and cards were prepared, many 
of them furnished gratuitously, or from 2 cents 
to 50 cents, thus being brought within the reach 
of all. From this beginning has sprung a well- 
equipped body of women parliamentarians, 
who are leaders, in any organization to which 
they belong. 

"Whenever officers are nominated by a com- 
mittee, and said committee bring in only one set 
of names, the motion should be made as follows : 
^I move that the report of the nominating com^ 
mittee be accepted and the candidates declared 
elected,' or ^I move that the secretary be re- 
quested to cast the vote of the club, electing 
the candidates named by the nominating com- 
mittee, as officers of said club for the ensuing 
year.' " 



86 
THE SECEETAEY— MINUTES. 

DUTIES OF SECRETARY. 

The secretary should have a good knowledge 
of parliamentary nsage^ a good voice and read- 
ing ability and be able to write easily and con- 
cisely. If she is a regular member of the club 
she may engage in debate or other business, such 
as making or seconding niotions and voting, but 
while she is doing this she should have an as- 
sistant to take the minutes, as much of value is 
lost unless this rule is adhered to. 

She must answer all questions regarding the 
minutes, as they should contain all the business 
that has been transacted and be a book of ready 
reference of same, i. e., as to orders of the day^ 
unfinished business, committees, etc. 

She may act as treasurer and correspondent 
of the club, subject to its rules, unless these 
offices are separately created. 

In the absence of the president or vice-presi- 
dent, it is the duty of the secretary to call the 
meeting to order and to move the election of a 
chairman pro tem. 

She should prepare and keep an accurate list 



87 

of members, have the custody of the constitu- 
tion, by-laws, rules of order, books of record and 
all other documents belonging to the club, un- 
less some one else is appointed for the purpose 
as librarian. 

She should stand while reading the nnn- 
utes or papers and keep a correct record of the 
nature, whether regular, adjourned regular or 
called, of all acts of each meeting. 

Every principal motion, whether carried or 
lost, unless otherwise ordered, should be re- 
corded, wdth names of its mover and second, a3 
it is often as important to know what measures 
were introduced, and by whom, as it is to 
know what measures were carried or what lost. 

It must be remembered that the rejection of 
a proposition is just as much the progress of 
business as its acceptance. "No" just as prop- 
erly expresses the will of the assembly as ''Yes.'' 
A verdict for the defendant is just as much 
the progress of the business of a lawsuit as a 
verdict for the plaintiff, and the fee is generally 
the same. 

She is required to assist the president to 
keep the business in order, and to prepare a list 
of same, for her guidance. Minutes should also 



include all resolutions and reports of commit- 
tees. The secretary should never criticise, fa- 
vorabl}^ or otherwise, any action taken, nor di- 
gress upon the weather or other incident having 
no bearing upon the regular order of the day 
in connection with the minutes. Her minutes 
should be a correct and faithful transcript of 
the proceedings in their entirety; nothing more 
and nothing less. 

The secretary's desk is the "table" in connec- 
tion with motions to lay on the table. 

She should furnish the president as speedily 
as possible with a list of all existing committees 
as well as a statement of the business to be 
transacted at each meeting, to read the papers, 
etc., that are called up ; to call the roll and note 
absentees when necessary; to call the roll when 
the ayes and noes are demanded ; to notify mem- 
bers of their appointment on committees, and 
inform them of the nature of the business re- 
ferred to them. If those appointed are present, 
she may obtain the floor and call their attention 
to these facts, but in large assemblies it is the 
better plan to follow strict parliamentary usage 
and notify them officially in writing. 

She should, when requested to do so, put to 



89 

vote all motions not appropriate for the presid- 
ing officer to pnt^ that is to say, those pertaining 
to said officer, unless the maker of the motion 
prefers to put it. 

The secretary of a club is also secretary when 
the club is in ^^committee of the whole." She 
should keep a memorandum of the proceedings 
of the committee for its use, but such memoran- 
dum should not be incorporated in the minutes, 
only the report of the committee is so recorded. 

She should keep such a record as will enable 
any intelligent person to understand fnlly the 
nature and doings of the meeting. 

In elections the secretary is required to cast 
the ballot for the club if it is found to be a 
imanimous vote or nearly so. 

Minutes should be approved by the assenibly 
and signed by the president. It takes a unani- 
mous vote to expunge anything from the min- 
utes. They may be amended by a majority 
vote. 

The amendment may be laid on the table, but 
does not carry the minutes with it. It is not 
necessary to vote on the adoption of the min- 
utes. After the reading the chair will say, 
"Are there any corrections?" If any, they 



90 

should be made at once. If none are made the 
chair will add: ^'There are none; the minutes 
will stand approved as read/^ 

When the occupant of the chair is changed 
during the sitting it should be noted in the 
minutes. The journal may be corrected by a 
majority vote. This is a book kept for the pur- 
pose of recording the minutes of an organiza- 
tion, the latter being in the nature of a memo- 
randum taken hurriedly during the course of 
the proceedings. 

"Any minutes^ even though they have been 
approved by the association^ may be amended at 
any future time by any one who was at the 
meeting when the minutes were taken, with no 
time limit, and such helps may be given the sec- 
retary in refreshing her memory as she requires 
in the interest of accuracy.^^ 



91 
THE TEBASUEER. 

DUTIES OF TREASURER. 

The treasurer usually acts as the banker of 
the society, receiving the money collected as 
dues, or contributed to the organization for any 
other purpose. In some societies no money may 
be received or paid out by the treasurer ex- 
cept upon order of the society, signed by the 
president, or secretary, or both, or otherwise at- 
tested in such manner as the rules of the so- 
ciety may direct. 

She should make at least a yearly report, con- 
sisting of a statement of the moneys received 
by her during the year, and from what sources ; 
the amount on hand at beginning of year; 
amount paid out and for what purpose, and the 
balance on hand. 

The report should be simple and brief. Its 
object is to enlighten the members as to their 
general financial condition. Multiplicity of de- 
tail would confuse rather than enlighten. A de- 
tailed statement should be attached to the gen- 
eral report. As soon as the treasurer makes 
her report it must be referred to an auditing 
committee, consisting of three persons, whose 



92 

duty it is to make a thorough examination of 
the treasurer's accounts before adoption, and 
for the convenience of the committee the item- 
ized statement, together with a copy of all 
vouchers, should be attached to the general re- 
port. Every officer who pays out money should 
insist upon a receipt or voucher for each pay- 
ment made, which should be carefully preserved. 
and presented with the itemized report to the 
auditing committee. The treasurer should in- 
sist upon her accounts being audited before she 
gives her report, as they must be, before they 
are adopted. Sometimes a custodian is ap- 
pointed to have charge of a special fund, and 
unless her report agrees with the auditor's re- 
port it would be very humiliating to say the 
least. 

The executive board should choose the bank in 
which the funds of the society are to be depos- 
ited, as this places the responsibility in the 
hands of the whole, instead of the person, A 
custodian may be permitted to choose the bank 
in which a special fund is deposited. This makes 
her personally responsible for the amount. 



93 
CORRESPONDING SECRETARY. 

DUTIES. 

A corresponding secretary should have "the 
pen of a ready writer/^ It is her duty to conduct 
all correspondence, give all official notices to 
individuals and the press, and answer all com- 
munications as directed by the chair or the as- 
sembly. The duties of a corresponding secre-» 
tary vary according to the nature of the organ- 
ization, and these must be outlined in the con- 
fititution. 



94 



CLASSIFICATION OF MOTIONS. 

Privileged Motions. — These questions^ by rea- 
son of their importance^ must when raised re- 
ceive immediate attention and decision, snsr 
pending whatever is before the assembly iintil 
its determination; they do not concern them- 
selves with the progress of business, but with 
the existence of the assembly itself, its police 
and good order. They concern the main ques- 
tion incidentally, as they defer action by taking 
up the time. 

Incidental Motions are such as arise out of 
the consideration of other questions, and must 
be decided before the matter out of which they 
arise. 

Subsidiary Motions directly concern the main 
question or principal motion, as they are applied 
to it for the purpose of most appropriately dis- 
posing of it, by obtaining in various ways the 
opinion of the assembly by other means than by 
adoption or rejection. 

Miscellaneous Motions are of various kinds 
that do not come under other heads. They 
might with propriety be classed as privileged 
and incidental. 



95 

LIST OF MOTIONS. 

This list is given in the order of precedence; 
this ia a parliamentary sense means each mo- 
tion ^j-elds to those which go before it. Some- 
times it is necessary to use several motions to 
properly dispose of a question. There is a posi- 
tive and a negative to all of these motions. 
The things you can and those you can not do. 

PRIVILEGED MOTIONS. 

1. Eeconsider to be placed on the minutes. 

2. To fix time of next meeting and place. 
Same rank. One can not take precedence of 

the other. If a motion to take a recess is made, 
the motion to adjourn would not be in order. 

3. To adjourn (recess). 

4. Questions of privilege. 

5. For orders of the day. 

INCIDENTAL MOTIONS. 

1. Appeals and questions of order; brings out 
an appeal and are points of order. 

2. For the reading of papers. 

3. To withdraw a motion. 

4. To suspend rules. 



96 
SUBSIDIARY MOTIONS. 

1. Objection to consideration. 

2. To lay on (or take from) the table. 

3. The previous question. 

4. Close or limit debate. 

5. To postpone to a certain time. 

6. To refer, to ac^opt, to commit or re-commit. 

7. To amend. 

8. To postpone indefinitely. 

9. To reconsider the vote. 

PRINCIPAL MOTION. 

Miscellaneous motions. 

SUBSIDIARY MOTIONS. 

"It is a general rule that these secondary mo- 
tions can not be used to dispose or of suppress 
one another ; the common principle, first moved; 
first put, applies to them. There are exceptions 
however. A motion to amend may be applied, 
to a motion to postpone, to commit or to amend 
a principal motion. The reason why this mo- 
tion is given a privilege which is not given to 
others is because of its usefulness. It is not 
used to dispose of or suppress, but to carry out 



97 

the wishes of the assembly^ or improve the mo- 
tion to which it is applied. A motion to amend 
gives way to a motion to commit, for the reason 
that it aids and facilitates the former/^ 

The object of the motion to '^postpone to a 
certain day" is to defer action upon the princi- 
pal motion at that time — for good reason; 
which must be made apparent — and takes prece- 
dence of it; otherwise it would be useless. At 
the time specified the postponed motion has the 
"right of way.'^ If a question is postponed un- 
til next session or meeting it comes up under un- 
finished business. The object and effect upon 
the principal motion of "objection to considera- 
tion" is fully treated on page 114. Also Lay 
on the Table and Take From the Table. If ob- 
jection to consideration is lost, the motion to- 
table can not be made. Previous Question can 
not be debated, amended, nor have any subsi- 
diary motion applied to it, nor to the main ques- 
tion while it — the previous question — is pend- 
ing, except to lay on the table. 



98 



TO FIX TIME OF IS^EIXT MEETING— 
PEIVILEGED. 

This is the highest in rank of all parliamen- 
tary motions, being classed first among the priv- 
ileged motions. This motion may be amended 
as to time or place, or both, at which the meet- 
ing shall be held. 

Not debatable when another question is un- 
der consideration, and has no privilege over a 
motion for recess already pending. Becomes 
the main question when nothing else is before 
the house. Needs no quorum. 



PKIYILEGED MOTIONS— ADJOURN- 
MENT. 

Adjourn; not privileged wlien no time has 
been fixed for next meeting. 

This motion, although among the priveleged 
class, that is, takes precedence, is not always 
in order and is not always privileged. If one 
word is added to the motion, "I move to ad- 
journ," or when nothing is before the house, it 
loses its privileged character, it is qualified and 
becomes the main question. It can be debated, 
amended and yields to all the usual parliamen- 
tary questions. Precedence in parliamentary 
law means that it is in order while another mo- 
tion is pending. 

Or a motion to adjourn is not in order when 
a member has the floor, when "to fix the time 
to which to adjourn" is pending, while a motion 
to reconsider is being made for entry on the 
minutes to be taken up for action at the next 
meeting or during the verification of a vote. 

A verification means proving it, merely say- 
ing yea or nay does not verify. A division, 
standing while being counted, or answering to 



100 

the roll call by responding aye or nay, a cor- 
rect record being kept, is a verification. 

While the chair is stating a question or an- 
nouncing a rnling, while any voting is in prog- 
ress, the motion to adjourn is not in order. But 
it is in order as soon as the chair has stated a 
question and before voting begins, or after a 
vote is taken and before the resnlt of the vote 
is fully announced. Xote the qualifying word, 
"fnlly.^' Some progress may be made toward 
announcing the result, as before the negative is 
put a motion to adjourn is in order. 

Eobert says : "It is better in ordinary socie- 
ties to introduce this question as a principal mo- 
tion." 



101 



MOTIONS THAT DO NOT EEQUIEE OB- 
TAINII^O THE FLOOE OE A SECOND. 

Questions of privilege are privileged questions 
as they need no recognition or second, and may- 
interrupt a speaker if urgent. The presiding of- 
ficer decides the matter, when stated, to be or 
not to be a question of privilege. If it is de- 
cided to be a question of privilege and not need- 
ing immediate attention, action may be deferred 
until such time as may be more convenient. The 
chair decides only whether the question is one 
of privilege; (an appeal may be taken from 
her decision) not as to the required action nec- 
essary. Questions of privilege relate to the 
rights and privileges of the assembly or any of 
its members. Those that affect the honor or 
dignity of the assembly are superior to those 
that only affect individuals. A personal explan- 
ation is not a question of privilege. The chair 
may, if in doubt, refer the decision to the assem- 
bly. Or, if the question is of so much impor- 
tance as to require investigation, such as pub- 
lished charges against the assembly, or upon the 
character of a member, it may be referred to a 



102 

committee. These questions concern the secur- 
ity of the assembly and members thereof. 

Form (if referring to the assembly) : "I 
rise to a question of privilege." (If referring 
to an individual or oneself) : "I rise to a ques- 
tion of personal privilege.'^ 

Chair : "State your question." 

If the question requires immediate attention 
(Examples of first class : A knock at the door, a 
telegram, room too hot or too cold and permis- 
sion wanted to close or open windows, disorder, 
etc. Examples of second class: A member 
wanted at the door, sudden sickness, house on 
fire.) stand not on the order of your going, but 
go at once, question or no question. 

Here is another example: A delegate and 
an alternate are sent from the club to the fed- 
eration. It is customary for an alternate to act 
in place of the delegate if at any time the dele- 
gate is not present when action is necessary. 
Sometimes, however, objection is raised to the 
capacity of the alternate to represent the dele- 
gate. In that event it should be at once re- 
ferred to the assembly as a question of priv- 
ilege. The assembly can settle the matter at 



103 

once or refer it to the committee on creden- 
tials. 

A member desiring information as to any 
rule or form relating to any business already 
acted upon or under consideration^ or what ef- 
fect such parliamentary motions will have upon 
the main question, or which she wishes to bring 
before the assembly, may rise to a parliamentary 
inquiry. Such inquiry needs neither recogni- 
tion nor second, and the person making it may 
interrupt a speaker if it requires immediate at- 
tention; it can not be amended or debated, and 
should be at once answered by the chair, unless 
not of sufficient importance to justify the inter- 
ruption of a speaker. This inquiry should not 
be made when a memher knows that a rule is 
teing violated, but only when in doubt. The 
former case requires a point of order. 



104 



OEDEES OF THE DAY. 

Orders of the Day consist of those matters 
of business and subjects to be considered during 
the hours of meeting. Orders of the day are 
general and special. 

General orders are placed on a programme 
or made an order of business for that day by 
majority vote. If business is brought before 
the assembly which needs more time for con- 
sideration than would be possible within the 
time limit of the society to give it, it may be 
made a special order; this takes a two-thirds 
vote in the affirmative, as it is in reality a sus- 
pension of the rules. A special order is taken 
up immediately after the reading of the min- 
utes; they take precedence of the general or- 
ders. Any one can call for the orders of the 
day, and any one may object to their considera- 
tion, as they become a principal motion when 
there is nothing before the assembly. 



105 



EULES OF ORDEE. 



Enles of Order contain the rnles relating to 
the orderly transaction of business in the meet- 
ings of the society. They include all parliamen- 
tary law and other rules pertaining to tlie 
life of an organization, outside the constitu- 
tion and by-laws. 



OEDEE OF BUSmESS. 

Call to order and preliminary exercises, if 
any. 

1. Eeading of minutes. 

2. Special orders, if any. 

3. Eeports of standing committees. 

4. Eeports of select committees. 

5. Unfinished business. 

6. New business. 



106 

POINTS OF OEDBE. 

Eobert and others: 

"The object of a point of order is to pre- 
vent or rectify the violation of a rule of order, 
b3^-laws or constitution/^ Any member of an 
assembly has the right to insist that its busi- 
ness shall proceed in a parliamentary manner 
without interruption. It is, therefore, the duty 
of the presiding officer to enforce the rules and 
orders of the assembly, and if any member 
violates them she should be called to order, 
either by the presiding officer at her own in- 
stance or upon the request of any other mem- 
ber. Does not require "obtaining the floor," can 
interrupt a member, does not require a second, 
can not be amended or debated and should be 
promptly decided by the chair whether it is Veil 
taken' or not, or if the chair is in doubt or un- 
willing to take the responsibility of deciding a 
point of order, she may without a motion take 
a vote of the assembly upon it. If the ruling 
of the chair is unsatisfactory her decision may 
be appealed- from by any member who is not 
satisfied with it. This must be done at the 
time of the decision and requires a second. The 



107 

decision of the chair is sustained by either a 
majority or tie vote. A tie vote sustains the 
chair upon the principle that the decision of 
the chair can only be reversed by a majority, and 
if her vote was recorded, as it has a right to be, 
it would naturally be in her own favor. When 
the chair has announced to the assembly that 
her decision has been appealed from, she asks : 
"Shall the decision of the chair stand as the 
Judgment of the assembly?" She then may give 
a reason for her ruling, after which the ques- 
tion is open for debate, with the following ex- 
ceptions : 

"When the appeal arises out of a trans- 
gression of the rules of speaking, or to some 
indecorum or to the priority of business, and 
when the previous question was pending at 
the time the question of order was raised." A 
motion can not be ruled out of order after it 
has been entertained and debated without ob- 
jection. No appeal or question of order should 
be entertained after the motion to adjourn has 
been made unless the assembly refuses to ad- 
journ, when it would be in order. It is the duty 
of each member to maintain order. When a 
"point of order'-' is raised only those should 



108 

speak whose advice is asked by the chair. "Ill- 
advised efforts to assist the chair in maintaining 
order onl}^ adds to the confusion/^ Offenders 
against decornm or the rules of the assembly are 
liable in some cases to have their privileges 
abridged or annulled by vote. "I rise to a point of 
order^ is necessary in all such cases. It is a vio- 
lation of parliamentary law to reflect upon the 
acts of the assembly unless such acts are under 
reconsideration or repeal; to misrepresent an- 
other's remarks, or when not under discipline to 
impute unworthy motives to her; to use lan- 
guage insulting or disrespectful toward the as- 
sembly or any of its members are offenses to 
which the following penalties may be attached: 
Expulsion, prohibition from voting, speaking 
or taking any part in the proceedings, suspen- 
sion for a specified time, fine and reprimand. 
All this was found necessary to compel meu 
to behave themselves. It goes without saying 
that women will never need such rules to regu- 
late them {': ) Here are some other things that 
men are told not to do while in a meeting, and 
yet I have been told they disregard the rule: 
"No member is to disturb another or the assem- 
bly itself by hissing, coughing or spitting, by 



109 

standing up to the interruption of others, by 
passing between the presiding officer and a mem- 
ber speaking, going across the assembly room or 
walking up and down on it, taking papers from 
the table or writing there, assaults by one mem- 
ber upon another, threats, challenges, affrays., 
etc., are also high breaches of decorum; none 
must enter the assembly room with his hat on." 
I am inclined to think that a rule to this ef- 
fect will be compulsory among the ladies' clubs 
if all of the members are able to have a new 
one. It might be possible to secure the upper 
floor of Carnegie library for a hat room on club 
afternoons. It will be in order to rise to a 
"point of order^' if your neighbor's hat annoys 
you in any way. 



110 



INCIDENTAL MOTIONS. 

If for any reason the chair refuses to put a 
motion properly made, an appeal to the assem- 
bly may be made^ and the mover can, by per- 
mission of the assembly, put the motion herself. 
An appeal must be seconded. Again, if the 
chair refuses to put the appeal to vote, and 
the member appealing does not put it herself, 
the assembly may declare the chair vacant and 
elect another presiding officer. The chair should 
yield gracefully when her decision is overruled 
without any show of feeling. This is a point 
where self-control and great self-possession is 
needed and it is one of the most diffi;cult posi- 
tions in which a presiding officer can be placed. 

'^Since trifles make the sum of human things. 
And half our misery from our foibles springs, 
Since life's best Joys consist in peace and ease 
And though but few can serve, yet all can please. 
Oh, let the ungentle spirit learn from hence 
A small unkindness is a great offense." 

— Hannah More. 



Ill 

Reading of Papers. — A paper which is not 
the subject on which the assembly is to deliber- 
ate and act can only be read by unanimous con- 
sen t, except as a part of the observations of a 
member in debate^ and even then it must be 
subject to reasonable limitations. — Reed. The 
question upon granting such permission can not 
be amended or debated. The paper may be both 
amended and debated. Every member has the 
right to have papers read before voting on them 
if no objection is made. If objected to^ the re- 
quest can only be granted by majority vote of 
the assembly. 

To Withdraw a Motion — Can not be amended 
or debated. 

^'When a question is before an assembly 
and the mover wishes to withdraw, or modify it; 
or substitute a different one in its place, if no 
one objects, the presiding officer grants the per- 
mission; if objection is made, it is necessary to 
obtain leave of the assembly to withdraw. The 
motion may be made at the suggestion of the 
chair or other member, who may give very 
briefly reasons for such request. Eobert forms : 
I wish the member would withdraw the motion 
so as to allow the report, etc. 



112 

Mover (obtaining the floor) : I wish to with- 
draw the motion. 

Chairman: Does the second consent? 

The chairman then states the question and 
asks is there any objection. If not, tlie motion 
is withdrawn. 

To Suspend Rides — This refers to standing 
rules, rules of order made by the assembly itself. 
"No rules involving parliamentary law or prin- 
ciples can be suspended.^^ — Robert. 

Constitution and by-laws can not be sus- 
pended. Suspension of rules of order requires a 
two-thirds vote of members present and voting. 

Standing rules may be suspended by majority. 
vote at any time. This motion is not debatable, 
nor can it be amended, nor have any subsidiary 
motion applied to it. The vote on it can not be 
reconsidered, nor made (if lost) again at the 
same meeting, but may be at next meeting. The 
rules of an assemubly should not be suspended 
except for a definite purpose, which must be 
stated in the motion. Form : I move to suspend 
the rules that interfere with; or for the pur- 
pose of ; specifying the object of suspension. No 
rules and regulations can be made for more than 
one session. Every organization has a right to 



113 

make rules for its own governance; these are 
called standing rules, and are in force during, 
the session unless rescinded. No one session 
can interfere with the rights of future sessions 
because at any moment a majority can suspend 
or rescind them or adopt a new order. So it is- 
improper for a session to postpone anything be- 
yond the next succeeding session and thus at- 
tempt to prevent the next session from consider- 
ing the question. 



114 



SUBSIDIARY MOTIONS. 

If it is not thought best to consider the mo- 
tion niade^ Object to consideration applies^ mnst 
be made after stating by the chair, before a 
word of discussion begins. It takes a two- 
thirds vote in the negative to decide this ques- 
tion. 

Is in order when another member has the 
floor; needs no recognition or second. Can not 
be debated or amended, or have any other subsi- 
diary motion applied to it except ; can be laid on 
the table and this carries the main question with 
it. A tivo-thirds vote in the negative defeats con- 
sideration of the subject for the entire meeting, 
unless reconsidered. An affirmative vote of more 
than one-third leaves the question before the as- 
sembly for action as though no objection had 
been made. If the society decides to consider 
the question, the motion to lay on the table can 
not be made. However, the motion to lay on the 
table may be made instead of objection to con- 
sideration, and this requires only a majority 
vote and can be taken from the table when no 
other motion is pending. 

It has a practical value in this connection, as 



115 

it disposes of it for the time being and need 
never be taken from the table. This is an easy 
way to get rid of a question one does not wish 
to entertain; but can be resurrected if desired. 
Floor must be obtained to make this motion and. 
must be seconded. 

To postpone indefinitely is another way to get 
rid of a question; does not limit the time and 
the question may be again brought up as a prin- 
cipal motion at another meeting. 

Robert "Whenever from the nature of the 
question it permits of no change, or debate, the 
presiding officer puts it immediately to vote; if 
the question is debatable, when it is thought that 
debate has continued long enough, the previous 
question may be called for, w^hich means, stop 
debating and amending and vote upon the ques- 
tion noiD before the house." The presiding of- 
ficer asks: "Are you ready for the question'?'^ 
The response from the assembly is : "Question, 
question." And the chair puts it immediately 
to vote. 

Form : As many as are in favor of the motion 
says aye (I), contrary, no. The result is an- 
noimced as follows : The motion is carried, or, 
the resolution is adopted, or lost, as the case 



116 

may be. If any one doubts the vote^ a division 
is called for. This does not require obtaining 
the floor or a second. 

Form: Madam President^ I call for a divis- 
ion. This means stand and be counted. 

The chair says : ^'All in favor of the motion 
will stand and be counted.^' After counting: 
"Those opposed will rise." The chair or secre- 
tary counts in small societies. In large assem- 
blies the chair appoints tellers to do the count- 
ing. 



117 



PEEVIOUS QUESTION. 

So long as a considerable minority of the 
assembly desires further discussion, debate 
should be allowed to continue if in order. How- 
ever, when discussion has continued as long as 
thought necessary by the majority a call for the 
previous question is in order. 

This is a technical name for this motion 
conveying a wrong impression of its meaning, 
as it has nothing to do with the subject previous- 
ly under consideration, but means stop amend- 
ing, cease debating and vote on the question now 
before the house. A question is said to be pend- 
ing when it has been brought properly before 
the body for discussion. 

The previous question is not debatable, its 
sole purpose is to stop debate, can not be 
amended, requires a two-thirds vote to carry it, 
but can be laid on the table and carries the 
main question with it. It can not be postponed 
or committed, but if lost may be reconsidered ; if 
carried, may be reconsidered before voting be- 
gins. The mover must obtain the floor and it 
must be seconded. 

The plain motion, ^^I move the previous ques- 



118 

tion/^ is imlimited, and takes effect upon all 
questions before the assembly. For instance, sup- 
pose there is a motion, an amendment thereto, 
and an amendment to the amendment pending. 
If the previous question is ordered, that is to 
say, carried, it means, unless otherwise stated, 
that a vote be taken at once on all, beginning 
with the amendment to the amendment. If it 
is limited to either of the amendments or to the 
motion, it affects only the one indicated, but 
'the amendments must be disposed of before the 
motion can be reached. 

If the previous question is ordered and ad- 
journment follows, the subject upon which it is 
ordered comes up the first thing after the 
reading of the minutes at the next meeting, and 
the previous question still operates, making the 
main question privileged over all other busi- 
ness, whether new or unfinished. 

If it is a question upon which much feeling 
is evinced, it is the better plan to appoint tell- 
ers from both sides of the question. 

A majority of votes cast is sufflcient for the 
adoption of any motion that is in order ; except 
those that require a two-thirds vote. There are 
eight of these. Every motion in this list has 



119 

the effect to change some rule or custom; and 
this always requires a two-thirds vote, i. e. : 
"To make a special order'' suspends all the rides 
that interfere with the consideration of the 
question at the specified time.'' To ^^take up 
a question out of its proper order" is a change 
in the order of business. 

"An objection to the consideration of a ques- 
tion if sustained suspends or conflicts with the 
right of a member to introduce a measure to 
the assembly. It must be remembered that 
every member has an equal right with every 
other member to submit propositions, to explain 
and recommend them in discussion, and to have 
them patiently examined and deliberately de- 
cided upon. The object of this motion is to en- 
able the assembly to avoid altogether any ques- 
tion which it may deem irrelevant, unprofitable 
or contentious." The chair may put this ques- 
tion upon her own responsibility, if she sees 
that its discussion would engender ill-feeling; 
or if of no advantage to the assembly. If de- 
cided in the negative it can not be again 
brought up during this meeting. This motion 
only applies to a principal motion. 



120 

''To Extend the Limits of Debate" is to sns- 
pencl a rule of order; this must be decided at 
once without debate. It can, however, be 
amended and reconsidered by a majority vote. 
Unless it is limited by the mover, applies to 
motion and amendment. May apply to the 
length of a speech; the times a member may 
speak, or to the whole time allowed for de- 
bate. "Close Debate'^ means that debate must 
cease at a certain time; when this time arrives 
it has the same effect as the "Previous Ques- 
tion,^' cuts off all debate and amendment and 
brings the pending question to vote. 

''Limit Deljate" — As to the length of each 
speech, say, .... minutes ; number of speeches 
to two on a side, or the whole debate to .... 
minutes. Forms: I move that the debate on 
this question be extended .... minutes ; I move 
that debate be limited to .... minute speeches ; 
I move that debate be now dosed; this may be 
amended by striking out the words now closed, 
and inserting ten minutes, or at 2 p. m. There 
is a certain freedom allowed in discussion of a 
question, but one must always be courteous to 
opponents; when one finds oneself being beaten 
then is the moment to guard against the least 



121 

manifestation of a ruffled temper^ irritability, 
snappishness or ill-humor. This is the point 
where great self-control is needed, and where 
one may infallibly distinguish between the ill- 
bred and the well-bred woman. 

Form : "I move that the member be allowed 
.... minutes to finish her speech/' or "I move 
the time for considering this report be extended 
till 13 o'clock.'^ 

"Any action of the assembly which removes 
the main question from its consideration^ as, for 
instance, adopting a motion to postpone, to 
commit, or to lay on the table, closes the de- 
bate upon such question during the period of 
postponement or commitment or until it is 
taken from the table." 

The question under debate can be made a 
special order for the next meeting, thereby re- 
moving it from consideration at the present one, 
and a motion to limit debate be made that will 
prevent extended discussion. 



122 



MISCELLANEOUS MOTION^S. 

Rescind — When the time limit — wliicli is the 
next meeting after which the vote to be re- 
considered was taken — has passed in which re- 
consider can be moved, the proper course to 
take is to "rescind/^ which means revolve, an- 
nul or reverse a decision. This motion stands 
on the same footing as a new resolution. Any 
action can be rescinded regardless of the time 
that has elapsed. Any one session can adopt 
a rule or resolution of a permanent nature — 
standing rule — and it continues in force until 
it is rescinded, but this rule can not interfere 
with the rights of any future session, because 
at any moment a majority can suspend or re- 
scind them, or adopt new ones. So it is im- 
proper for a session to postpone anything be- 
yond the next succeeding session, and thus at- 
tempt to prevent the next session from consider- 
ing the question. The motion to rescind is not 
in order when the subject can be reached by re- 
consider. To reconsider a vote reinstates the 
motion before the assembly for its action, and 
is in order only at the meeting at which the 
vote was taken or at the next regular meeting. 



123 

To rescind a motion blots out all action pre- 
viously taken, and is in order at any time. 

Renewal of a Motion — When any principal 
motion or amendment thereto has been once 
acted upon by the assembly, it cannot be taken 
up again at the same session, except by a mo- 
tion to reconsider, or, if laid on the table, by 
a motion to "take from the table," and, if re- 
consider has been once acted upon, it can not 
be renewed unless it was amended after the 
first reconsideration. Any parliamentary mo- 
tion, privileged, incidental or subsidiary, may 
be renewed after progress in business has al- 
tered the former state of aif airs. For example : 
If a motion to lay on the table has been offered 
and failed, and the motion to refer the ques- 
tion to a committee is pending, it is again in 
order to move to lay the question on the table, 
but such a motion would not be in order if it 
were not made till after the failure of the mo- 
tion to commit, as the question then resumes 
its previous condition. When a subject has 
been referred to a committee which reports at 
the same meeting, the matter stands before the 
assembly as if it had been introduced for the 
first time. A motion that has been withdrawn 
has not been acted upon and therefore can be 
renewed. 



124 



PAELIAMEJSTTARY INQUIEY. 

Parliamentary inquiries occupy a pecnliar po- 
sition. They are of tlie nature of privileged 
motions, as it is not necessary to obtain the 
floor, and the motion needs no yeeond, but can 
not interrupt a speaker. It is a privileged in- 
terrogation as to the effect of a certain action 
or how to proceed to accomplish a certain re^ 
suit. The chair should answer to the best of 
her ability or may call upon some member to 
give the desired information. If the decision 
takes the form of a ruling, it may become the 
basis for an appeal. — Howe. 



TO AMEND THE RULES. 

This applies to those rules a society has made 
and adopted for its ot\ti conduct, such as stand- 
ing or special (Robert), and may be amended by 
a mere majority at any meeting, without pre- 
vious notice. Howe : "When meetings are held 
only at long intervals, proposed amendments 
may be referred to a committee. Their report 
may be adopted without further notice/' 



125 

STANDING RULES. 

If it is found that a standing rule, having 
heen adopted, becomes a fixed determination of 
the assembly, does not have the eifect desired, 
it may be suspended just as a "rule of order," 
but requires a two-thirds vote. Form : I move 
to suspend the rules that conflict with — stating 
the proposed action. 

This being a "Suspension of Rules," requires 
a two-thirds vote, although the rule itself re- 
quired only a majority vote, and may be sus- 
pended by "reconsidering the vote" that made 
it. It may be amended, annulled or modified 
as desired, at any time, by majority vote. 



126 



SPECIAL EULES. 

Mrs. A. S. Benjamin^ national superintendent 
of Parliamentary Usage of the W. C. T. U., 
says : "Every organization has the right to 
adopt special rnles^ even though they conflict 
with some of the rules in the adopted manual. 
* * * Many years before Eobert so stated 
the N'ational W. C. T. U. did not require a 
member who seconded a motion to rise and wait 
for recos^ntion. * * * Any org^anized body 
may have a code of Special Eules^ and when 
these conflict with the manual the special rules 
are enforced instead of the manual.'' — A. S. 
Benjamin. 



127 

PEOGEAM COMMITTEE'S EEPOET. 

When a program has been prepared it be- 
comes the Orders of the Day, and a copy is 
given to each member — in convention, each 
delegate. After its distribution, the chair should 
ask the pleasure of the body concerning the pro- 
gram. The chairman or other member should 
then move, "that this program be adopted as 
the Orders of the Day for this society, for the 
club, or convention, for this session, subject to 
such changes as may be found necessary.'' 

Some standing committees are really "spe- 
cial," for instance, auditing and programme. 

If the report of a committee contains recom- 
mendations, the report is adopted exclusive of 
the recommendations, and they are referred to 
the executive board, or the report may be ac- 
cepted with recommendations. 

When only a partial report is made it is un- 
derstood that the committee is to continue its 
work. 

Eesolutions are acted upon the same as the 
constitution and by-laws. The preamble, if any, 
is subject to the same rules as the resolutions, 
but is not acted upon until after the resolutions 



128 

are adopted, as tlie action to be taken upon it is 
determined by the vote upon the resolutions. 
These might all be adopted '•'"as a whole/^ bnt 
this is considered unwise without special con- 
sideration. 

A committee has a right to suppress only res- 
olutions that the majority may decide to be 
irrelevant or inimical to the best interests of 
the society; bnt if a majority of the assembly 
desire the resolutions to be presented to them, 
they may be read and adopted, and the commit- 
tee be in no way responsible for such resolu- 
tions. Never forget that an assembly has rights. 
Committees are appointed for the purpose of 
expediting business, but are always subject to 
the action of the assembly by majority vote, and 
if they wish to have the resolutions included in 
the reguar list, it can be so ordered. Its place 
is determined by the assembly rather than by 
a committee, but no resolution can conflict with 
the constitution. Even if a resolution offered 
by the committee does not meet the approval 
of the assembly, it may be tabled or stricken 
from the list. 



129 



YIELDING, OR RIGHT TO THE FLOOR. 

A member having gained the floor, may 
yield it for a question addressed to herself, with- 
out losing her right to continue, for the very 
act of submitting to an interrogation involves 
the retaking of the floor for a reply. 

So, also, when she yields for a motion to ad- 
journ, or to take a recess, or that the commit- 
tee of the whole rise, she is entitled to re- 
sume if any of these motions is negatived. She 
is also entitled to resume at the next session 
when the subject is again before either assem- 
bly or committees, should any of these motions 
be carried. But in all other cases, yielding the- 
floor means abandoning it to the assembly. 

The member on the floor has a right to yield 
for the motions mentioned, because they are in- 
diflerent motions aflecting the sitting of the 
body. She has no right to yield to a particular 
member for another kind of motion, because 
that would be usurping the prerogative of the 
chair, who alone has the power to give the right 
to the floor for any purpose whatever. 

The presiding officer should pay close atten- 
tion to debates so as to be ready at all times 



130 

to interpose for tlie preservation of order. Said 
officer has great power over debate and decorum, 
because she represents the consolidated power 
and dignity of the assembly, and if she has 
reason to believe that a member is abusing 
her privileges of debate of other business as to 
be in themselves disorder, she has the right to 
disregard such action and put only such mo- 
tions as will expedite the declaration of the will 
of the assembly, for which action the presiding 
officer is responsible to the assembly. 

Sometimes debate is used to waste time, cause 
delay and prevent action. Hence the promi- 
nence given to the previous question. 

Experience has sho^n the need of controll- 
ing debate. ^'^Some method of closing debate 
has been found necessary for the proper transac- 
tion of business." 

Motions to extend, limit and close debate ap- 
ply to all debatable questions and rank next be- 
low the previous question. 



131 

VOTIXG— ITS IMPORTANCE. 

In an organized society everything is settled 
by vote. By the vote the society gives expres- 
sion to its will. 

It is the most important work of the assem- 
bly. It is the culmination of all the other 
work. A decision is reached by the discussion 
of a question which aids the members in form- 
ing an opinion. The several wills of the separ- 
ate individuals are transformed into the will of 
all by the vote. In no other way can the de- 
cision and desire of the assembly be known. 
The sole purpose of an organization is to come 
to a decision quickly upon the main questions 
which, come before it and to vote upon them 
with good judgment. Various methods of vot- 
ing have been employed and sanctioned by long 
practice. There are five methods of voting: 

First: The viva voce (by word of mouth) 
method. The volume of sound determines the 
result, which the chair announces. If any mem- 
ber doubts the decision of the chair, she may 
appeal; this must be seconded; or she may say, 
"Doubted,^' and call for a rising vote. The 
chair calls for those in the affirmative to stand 



132 

and be counted^ after which they are seated, and 
those in the negative are requested to stand, 
and the result is announced. This is called a 
verification of the vote. If it is desired, the 
vote may be taken in this way at first. A mem- 
ber may say, "A rising vote, please.^' 

The chair may also call for a rising vote if 
she is in doubt. This is the second method. 

By the uplifted hand, which method is going 
out of date, as the result must be determined 
by the chair alone, as she faces the floor and 
can see all the hands, although in a large meet- 
ing this would be impossible, while members 
upon the floor can see only a fraction of the 
hands, and there is no appeal from the decision 
of the chair in such a case. This is the third 
method. 

Fourth: The vote by ballot is rarely used 
except in the election of officers, or when the 
constitution of a society declares that appli- 
cants for membership shall be decided by bal- 
lot. 

Fifth Method is by yeas and nays. This is 
a vote by roll call. The secretary calling the 
roll, each member rises and responds in an 
audible voice yes or no, as she wishes. The 



133 

secretary records each vote, whether in the af- 
firmative or negative. The secretary then gives 
the number of votes on each side to the pre- 
siding oihcer, who then announces the result. 
The object of this manner of voting is to put 
each person on record and compels every one 
present to vote. It is frequently the case that 
a person does not vote, sometimes through dif- 
fidence, but more often because they do not want 
to take sides — they are on the fence — as the 
politicians say; sometimes they are really indif- 
ferent as to how the vote goes. In order that 
the vote may be taken by yeas and nays, a 
member must gain the floor and move that 
the vote on the question before the house be 
taken by yeas and nays. It only takes a ma- 
jority vote to decide the question. On a vote 
by roll call, the name of the presiding officer 
must be called last, that she may not bias the 
vote, as many members are undecided and will 
be governed by her action. It is a principle of 
parliam.entary law that a presiding officer shall 
not bias the vote. 

"By biasing a vote is not to be understood 
that the president has not the right to make a 
statement of any knowledge in her posses- 



134 

sion that should come before the house, even 
though such a statement would change the re- 
sult. That the vote of the floor might be in- 
fluenced by her statement would undoubtedly 
be true, but only for the reason that the mem- 
bers have before them additional facts.*' — Mrs. 
A. S, Benjamin. 



135 



ELECTIONS. 

Before an election of officers, it is necessary 
that the credential committee report — if in con- 
yention — to show who has a right to the fran- 
chise. This report show^s who is in good stand- 
ing, i. e., have paid their dues, and upheld the 
constitution and by-laws. This committee is 
always appointed either by the chair, or, if so 
desired, nominated by the chair and ratified by 
the assembly. 

The report of the committee on credentials 
having been read, a motion that the report of 
the committee be adopted — and no one who has 
not paid their dues is entitled to vote — is made. 

Only those delegates who have proper creden- 
tials are entitled to a seat in the convention. 
Referring the matter to a committee as to who 
is qualified to a seat in the convention is for 
the purpose of saving time to the assembly and 
to secure more careful consideration than the 
assembly would have time to give it, and which 
would be cumbersome and unsatisfactory. 



136 



PROXIES. 

The right to vote is not transferable. There 
are two exceptions to this — delegates to a con- 
vention may choose one of their number to cast 
the entire vote of the delegation. One is said 
to vote by proxy who^ though absent from the 
meetings votes through another member who is 
present and who has the written authority,, 
called a proxy, signed by the absent member, 
but this is only allowed when provision is made 
ior it in the constitution or by-laws. 

The presiding officer, if a member, has the 
right to vote always, except by viva voce vote. 
.By ballot, to make or break a tie, to make or 
break a two-thirds vote, and when the ayes or 
nays are called, but, as I said before, in the lat- 
ter case her vote must be given last. 

In writing constitutions I have learned by ex- 
perience that there are reasons why proxies 
should be allowed. In the case of trained 
nurses, when they are "on a case," it would be 
impossible for them to be present at the meet- 
ings, and they are allowed to vote by proxy. 



137 

HOW CANDIDATES ARE SELECTED. 

By ballot: By a nominating committee and 
by nominations from the floor. Nominations oy 
ballot give most general satisfaction. Tins 
method gives each member an opportunity of 
secretly voting for the nomination of the mem- 
ber they prefer for the office. Tellers are ap- 
pointed for distributing and collecting ballots, 
two other members should be appointed as 
counting tellers. If upon the count one person 
has a majority of all the votes cast, that one 
is the only nominee ; if two or three have about 
an equal number of votes, they are declared the 
nominees, and nominations are declared closed 
and the ballots are distributed for election, col- 
lected and counted ; if it is found that one nom- 
inee has a majority of all the votes cast, it is 
customary and legal for a member to obtain 
the floor, and move that the recording secre- 
tary cast the ballot for president or other of- 
ficers. The chair states the motion, giving op- 
portunity for remarks and takes a rising vote, 
first in the affirmative and then in the negative. 
The secretary then declares "I hereby cast the 
ballot of the convention for (naming choice) as 



138 

president of the T. W. P. A. for the ensuing 
year/' 

If there is a box^ the secretary casts the bal- 
lot in it. The unbiased choice of each mem- 
ber was expressed by the nominating ballot se- 
cretly; if an objection is made to the secretary 
casting the ballot, it conld not be done. 

When nominations are made by a committee 
and only one set of names are mentioned, the 
same routine is in order and legal, but when 
more than one name is mentioned for each of- 
fice, the election must be by ballot until a ma- 
jority over all the votes cast is obtained for one 
person. A majority in parliamentary practice 
is more than all the others put together; a plu- 
rality, more than any other one. — Palmer. 

ACCLAMATION. 

The motion to elect by acclamation (which 
is shouting) should never be made. Ko such 
method of voting is recognized in parliamentary 
practice. .It is sometimes made, the idea of the 
mover being that the carrying of such a mo- 
tion elects the candidate. In reality it only fixes 
the manner in which the assembly shall elect; 



139 

another vote taken in the manner the assem- 
bly has fixed is found necessary to elect. 

Parliamentary law is a system of rules pre- 
scribed by the highest authority, and the usage 
of assemblies; having been tested by both expe- 
rience and practice, have been proved to be the 
very best that could have been devised for the 
purpose. These laws embody all the rules of 
good breeding, Christian courtesy, true polite- 
ness and Justice to all. They are guides to cor- 
rect conduct, direction given for properly hand- 
ling any business that is brought before an 
assembly for action. There should be uniform- 
ity of practice, so that the proceedings may be 
conducted in a dignified and orderly manner, 
that harmonious action may be taken both to 
ascertain and carry out the will of the assembly. 
This system, together with the Christian re- 
ligion, brings one about as near ^^in tune with 
the infinite" as it is possible for human beings 
to become. 

"When a reason is given for a certain par- 
liamentary proceeding, that form of proceed- 
ing is more easily and lastingly fixed in the 
memory than if left as a purely arbitrary 
statement/-' 



140 



ANNOUNCEMEi^T OF THE EESULT. 

It is important to announce the result of 
a vote, for nntil that is done there are mo- 
tions that conld be made that wonld be in 
order and would destroy the vote. The an- 
nouncement of the resnlt of a vote cinches it 
A member has a right to change her vote until 
the resnlt is announced, unless by ballot. It is 
as essential to put the negative as the affirma- 
tive and must not be omitted. Those present 
and not voting are counted M-ith the prevailing 
side, as silence gives consent. 

Nominations are not motions and do not re- 
quire a second, but if a society desires to have 
a nominating speech from one nominating and 
seconding, there can be no valid objection. I^om- 
inations from the floor are unfair when there is 
a committee for the purpose, for when the re- 
port of the nominating committee is accepted 
the floor agrees that the persons named shall be 
the candidates, and if there are but one set of 
names they will surely be elected. The reason 
why we have nominations is, a name may be 
suggested that might not otherwise be thought 
of, who would be a better choice for the office. 



141 



CHANGING THE VOTE— QUESTION OF 
PEIVILEGE. 

A vote may be changed before the result is 
fully and finally announced. If a vote is taken 
viva voce, then by a rising vote, and finally the 
yeas and nays are ordered, a member may 
change her vote before the result of the last 
vote is fully announced by the chair. 

The maker of a motion may vote against her 
motion, but must not speak against it. The 
thing to do if discussion — or any reason — has 
caused a change of mind, is to withdraw the 
motion. 



142 



COMMITTEES A^D IXFOEMAL ACTIOISr. 

Gushing: Committees are appointed to con- 
sider a particular subject, either at large, or 
"tinder special instructions, to obtain informa- 
tion in reference to a matter before the assem- 
bly, either by personal inquiry or inspection, or 
by the examination of witnesses, and to digest, 
and put into proper form for adoption by the 
assembly, all resolutions, votes, orders and 
other papers with which they may be charged. 

Robert: A committee is a miniature assem- 
bly that must meet together in order to transact 
business, and one of its members must be ap- 
pointed secretary. The quorum of a committee 
— unless a smaller number has been decided 
upon in the constitution or by-laws — consists of 
a majority of its members, and what is not 
agreed to by a majority can not form a part of 
its report. Most of the effective work of so- 
cieties is done through standing committees, 
whose names, duties and powers should be fixed 
in the by-laws, as well as the time and method 
of appointment. These committees are per- 
manent, and should be selected at the beginning 
of a session, and to them are referred all matters 



143 

relating to the subjects of which they are in 
control, as they can give more time and careful 
attention to the matters intrusted to tliem t]ian 
would be possible for the assembly to give. 

Eeed says: The committee is the eye, ear 
and hand and a goodly share of the brain of 
the assembly. 

The first person named on a committee acts 
as its chairman unless a chairman is appointed 
by the presiding officer or the assembly, or the 
committee itself may by a majority vote of all 
its members elect its chairman from among 
their number. 

Freed from the very great inconvenience of 
numbers, it can study a question, obtain full in- 
formation, and put the proposed action into 
shape for final action. The appointment also 
insures the presence during debate of those 
members who have made some examination of 
the question and tends to preserve the assembly 
from its greatest danger, that of being carried 
away by some plausible harangue which excites 
feeling, appeals to sentiment and obscures rea- 
son. 

The principle of the selection of a commit- 
tee is that they should represent in the mem- 



144 

bership as far as practicable the different views 
of the members of the assembly. This insures 
in the discussion which follows the report, such 
a full presentation of the subject in all its as- 
pects as will enable the assembly to decide wisely 
and with full knowledge. The rules of the as- 
sembly as far as possible shall apply in commit- 
tee. However, the chairman of a committee 
usually takes the most active part in the dis- 
cussion and work of the committee. When 
through with the business assigned them, a mo- 
tion is made for the committee to "rise" (which 
is equivalent to the motion to adjourn), and 
that the chairman make the report to the as- 
sembly. The committee ceases to exist as soon 
as the report is made, unless it is a standing 
committee. No allusion can be made in the as- 
sembly to what has occurred in committee ex- 
cept it be by its report, or by general consent. 

Sub-committee may be appointed by stand- 
ing or special committees, if necessary help is 
needed. 

There are also select or special committees. 
These are usualy small, and are chosen for 
action; to do some particular thing that the 
assembly has decided should be done. 



145 

Joint and conference committees are select 
committees, also those for investigation, and 
are nsualy made up of the standing commit- 
tees, and should be large. There is also a com- 
mittee of the whole. An executive committee 
is a standing committee, composed of the per- 
manent officers of the society and chairman of 
committees, and such appointed members as 
the by-laws may designate. 

It is the duty of this committee to have a 
thorough knowledge of every department of 
work which the society, of which they are a 
part, has in charge; to plan said work and to» 
form new devices and designs for the improve- 
ment and advancement of the organization. 
which they represent. This committee holds as 
many meetings as the exigencies of the case 
demand — usually one mid-year meeting and as 
many as are necessary at the time of the an- 
nual meeting. 

It is customary at the close of the annual 
meeting to move that all unfinished business 
and all business coming up during the interim 
between meetings be referred to the general 
officers or to the executive committee. Unlike 
other committees, the president of the assem- 



146 

bly presides at these meetings. In ordinary 
committees the person first named on a com- 
mittee acts as its chairman so far as it relates 
to the preliminary steps to be taken, and is 
nsually permitted to do so through the whole 
proceedings, but this is a matter of courtesy, 
every special committee having a right to se- 
lect its own chairman. 

All action of a committee must be taken at 
a regular meeting, duly called, where all are 
notified and a quorum is present. 

'No action can be taken by members not in 
meeting assembled. The consent of all indi- 
viduals without a regular called meeting will 
not render any action so taken valid. It is con- 
ference, and after that unanimous consent that 
is required. 

It is considered a breach of trust as well as 
of good breeding to reveal anything done in 
secret session or in executive committee meet- 
ings. A committee controls its sessions ; it may 
permit other members of the assembly to be 
present or it may exclude all others. 

The method of selection most in use is by 
appointment by the presiding officer, as she 
is supposed to understand the will of the assem- 



147 

bly, as she M^as chosen to represent them. If 
the presiding ofBcer prefers, any member of the 
assembly may suggest or nominate. 

Other modes of selection are by resolution 
that creates the committee and contains the 
names of those the mover desires to compose it. 
When the report is to be made, the chairman 
or member appointed to make it informs the 
assembly that the committee to whom was re- 
ferred such a matter is ready to report, and 
moves that it be received now, or at some speci- 
fied time. A very common error is, after a 
report has been read, to move that it be re- 
ceived, whereas the fact that it has been read 
shows that it has already been received by the 
assembly. Another mistake is to move that the 
report be accepted, which is equivalent to its 
adoption, when the intention is only to have 
the report up for consideration and afterward 
adopt it. 

A third error is to move the report be adopted 
and the committee discharged. When the com- 
mittee has made a full report to the assembly 
and their report adopted the committee has al- 
ready ceased to exist. 

If the committee has made but a partial re- 



148 

port or only reported progress and it is thought 
best, some one may move that the connnittee 
be discharged from further consideration of the 
subject, or the committee may be retained and 
the business recommitted to them until com- 
pleted. 

A credential committee is never elected. The 
purpose for which it is appointed is to find out 
vi^ho has the right to vote in the convention, 
and until this is ascertained there would be no 
one to vote upon the selection of this committee. 
This committee is sometimes a standing and 
sometimes a special committee. The purpose 
of this committee is to save time and secure 
more careful consideration than if left to the 
assembly. If the power to examine credentials 
of delegates was left to the assembly, it would 
be most unsatisfactory and cumbersome, fritter- 
ing away the time. 



149 

COMMITTEE OF THE WHOLE. 

This means all the members or tlie wliola 
assembly. 

The form of moving that the assembl}^ go 
into a committee of the whole is as follows 

"I move that the assembly do now resolve 
itself into a committee of the whole house to 
consider" (followed by a specification of the 
subject to be considered). 

This is designed to give the entire assembly 
the freedom enjoyed by an ordinary committee. 

If the motion is adopted the presiding officer 
immediately calls another member to preside, 
and takes her place as a member of the com- 
mittee. The member so selected is designated 
the chairman of the committee of the whole. 
This gives the regular presiding officer of tlie 
assembly the opportunity to take part in the 
business of the meeting, untrammeled by any 
of the formalities that ordinarily hedge her 
about, as no formalities are observed, except to 
obtain the floor in the ordinary way, each one 
speaking as long and as often as permission is 
obtained. A vote limiting the number and 
length of speeches to be made and the number 



150 

of times each member may be allowed to speak 
on the question mider consideration may be 
made by the assembly. 

As a committee^ its power is limited. It has 
no power to restrict debate, and can not, even 
by imanimous consent, extend the limit fixed 
by the assembly. They can not refer the mat- 
ter mider consideration to another committee. 
The qnornm is the same as in the assembly. The 
only motions it has power to act upon are to 
amend, to adopt, to rise and report. It can 
not adjourn or order the yeas and nays. 

If the chairman is unable to preserve order, 
the presiding officer of the assembly may take 
the chair, and declare the committee dissolved. 

When for any reason the committee of the 
whole wishes to close the meeting the form is: 

"I move that the committee do now rise." 

This motion has the same rank as the mo- 
tion to adjourn. 

As soon as carried the regular presiding of- 
ficer resumes the chair and the chairman of 
the committee, having taken her place in the 
assembly, addresses the presiding officer, and, 
upon being recognized, says : 

"The committee has completed its considera- 



151 

tion of the matter referred to it, and is ready 
to give its report wlienever it may please the 
assembly to receive it.'' 

Can be amended, by altering, or instructing. 

Sub-committees may be appointed from 
among its own membership, by the committee, 
the snb-committee to report the result of its 
investigation or labor to the general committee, 
for action. 

Unless otherwise provided for, the chairman 
of a committee presents the report of a commit- 
tee to the assembly. 

It is the duty of the chairman to call the 
meetings of the committee where the time of 
meeting is not otherwise fixed; but if she re- 
fuses or neglects to do so, any two members 
may call the committee together by notifying 
the members thereof. 

The chairman of a committee may engage ac- 
tively in the discussion and work. 

Motions in committee do not require a sec- 
ond, 

A vote upon any motion can not be reconsid- 
ered unless every member of the committee is 
present who voted with the majority when the 
vote to be reconsidered is taken. 



152 

The committee can not pimisli its members 
for misconduct. It can only report snch mat- 
ter to the assembly for it to take action thereon. 

What has taken place in the committee can 
he stated in the assembly only by the report. 
Statements not contained in the report may be 
heard by general consent of the assembly. 

Form of presenting report to assembly: 

"Yonr committee^ to which was referred, etc., 
submits the following report:" (Then follows 
subject matter of report.) 

A motion is then in order to receive the re- 
port. 

This means that the assembly be requested to 
listen to the report, which motion, if carried, 
is followed by the reading of the report, and 
thereupon it is considered "received.'' 

The motion must then be made to adopt or 
otherwise dispose of the report, unless the com- 
mittee was appointed to collect statistics, or ob- 
tain any information not calling for affirma- 
tive action on the part of the assembly, when 
the proper motion is to accept the report. 

The acceptance is an expression of the satis- 
faction of the assembly with the work done, and 



153 

is used, when from the nature of the report, the 
motion to adopt would not be appropriate. 

Action is sometimes ^^approved." 

A committee, unless otherwise provided, 
ceases to exist as soon as it makes its full re- 
port, and no motion to discharge the commit- 
tee is necessary. 

The report signed by a majority of the com- 
mittee is the report of the committee. 

A minority may also make a report, which 
may be submitted in the following words : 

"A minority of the committee to whom was 
referred (stating the matter) desire to report 
(stating their views)." 

This minority report may, if the assembly 
choose, be substituted for the report of the 
committee. 

^'The reception of a report brings it before 
the assembly for adoption, modification or re- 
jection." 



154 



EX-OFFICIO. 

An ex-officio member of a committee or board 
is one who by virtue of holding some particular 
office may be made a member. If this office is 
under the control of the society appointing her^ 
there is no distinction between her and the other 
members^ bnt if the ex-officio member is not 
Tinder the authority of the society, she has all 
the privileges, but none of the obligations of 
membership. 

This does not compel the president to be 
present, but permits her to act if so desired. 
This does not give her any right over other 
members ; a committee has a right to choose its 
own chairman, and it is not wise to elect the 
president to this position, as the matter was 
referred to a committee for the purpose of im- 
partial discussion and decision, to be recom- 
mended to the assembly, and if she is chosen 
chairman, any one so disposed might accuse her 
of partisanship. 



155 



INFORMAL ACTION. 

It is sometimes advisable to consider a ques- 
tion informally; this may be done by simply 
making the motion that, "I move that we con- 
sider this question informally.'' This motion 
is made instead of going into a "committee of 
the whole/' and the presiding officer retains 
the chair, and the time limit must be set. The 
same rules govern as in committee of the whole. 
Time may be extended by majority vote. This 
informal discussion may bring to light some 
facts concerning the subject that had not pre- 
viously been thought of that may be of benefit, 
or it may be found that the former action, if 
any, is preferable. Any additional informa- 
tion is always valuable. 



156 



PAELIAMENTARY MOTIONS THAT 
AEE UNDEBATABLE. 

To fix time or place^ or both^ when privileged,;!, 
1. e., when something else is before the housei: 
To adjourn when privileged. In committee toi 
"rise/' which is nsed instead of adjourn, as the:^ 
committee goes into the assembly room, where 
the assembly is in session, to make its report. 

For the orders of the day, and questions re- 
lating to the priority of business. 

An appeal, if made, while the previous ques- 
tion is pending, or if only relating to indecorum 
or transgression of the rules, or to the priority 
of business. 

Objection to consideration. 

To lay on or take from the table. 

The previous question. 

To reconsider, a question which is unde- 
batable. 

Questions relating to reading of papers, or 
withdrawing a motion, or suspending the rules, 
or extending the limits of debate, or limiting or 
closing debate, or granting leave to continue her 
speech to one who has been guilty of indecorum 
in debate. 



157 

Postpone to a certain day can not be debated, 
except on the propriety of postponement. 

When an amendment is before the assembly 
the main question can not be debated except 
as it is necessarily involved in the discussion of 
the amendment. Suggestions may be made or 
questions asked^ when they will assist the mem- 
bers in deciding the question, to a limited ex- 
tent. 

Privileged motions are always undebatable. 



QUESTIONS THAT CAN NOT BE 
AMENDEiD. 

Adjourn, unqualified. 

Appeals. Lay on and take from the table. 

Leave to continue speaking to one who has 
been guilty of indecorum. 

Object to consideration. Call for orders of 
the day. Postpone indefinitely. Previous ques- 
tion. Reconsider. Suspend rules. Take up busi- 
ness out of order. Withdrawal of a motion. 



158 



TO PEOMOTE ACTION. 

As a rule every effort should be made to ex- 
pedite business; but it is more courteous to uset 
parliamentary means to secure the rights of 
the minority than to override them. For in- 
stance, a motion has been made, seconded, 
stated and is "before the house.'' As soon as it 
is discovered that an attempt is being made 
to delay action, rise to a question of privilege, 
or call for the "orders of the day.'' Any mo- 
tion to delay action is in direct opposition to 
the right of a member, and of the assembly. 
If the chair is dilatory or hostile, appeal from 
her decision. Eemember that a tie vote on an 
appeal sustains the decision of the chair. 

A motion to suspend the rules, if they inter- 
fere with the desired action, or call for the pre- 
vious question, if applicable, can be made, but 
you would want to be sure that a two-thirds vote 
in favor could be secured. Move to amend, if 
by so doing you could make the motion less ob- 
jectionable to opponents. You can also with- 
draw your motion, or lay it on the table, if 
you are sure of a majority vote to take from 
the table when called up. To postpone to a 



159 

certain day if this will secure a place in the 
orders of the day under better conditions. 
Finally, if applicable, move reconsideration. 

Eemember, this is in order even after a vote 
to adjourn has been taken, if not yet announced 
by the chair, for the purpose of having it en- 
tered on the minutes. Can interrupt a speaker, 
may be called up whenever there is no other 
motion under consideration, taking precedence 
of everything except to fix time and place of 
next meeting and to adjourn. 

To Delay Action : Object to consideration, or 
call for orders of the day, or lay the question 
on the table, or move to postpone indefinitely. 
Move to amend. Raise a point of order, and, 
if decided against you, appeal, or move to re- 
fer the question to a committee, or move to post- 
pone to a certain day. If these all fail, try 
the previous question if more than one-third 
will vote against it. 

Try adjourn; if you discover no quorum 
present. As a last resort, move to fix time and 
place of next meeting. This motion may be 
amended by altering time or place, or both, 
at which the meeting shall be held. Howe says : 
These motions are all legitimate when a ma- 



160 

jority believe that unjust or ill-considered action 
will be taken; but this list of dilatory motions 
should rarely be followed to the bitter end. It 
is better to lay the question on the table if you 
can secure a majority vote^ or if that fails, 
move to adjourn, if in order. It takes up time 
to debate or discuss a question, and this should 
be allowed to continue if in order. Sometimes 
it is known that a question is to be brought 
up at a certain time or election of officers set 
for a certain afternoon^ no hour having been 
appointed, and a member moves that the elec- 
tion of officers be taken up. This is seconded, 
and the presiding officer must put it to vote and 
a majority carry the day; then is the time to 
delay action, to give those who have not ar- 
rived time to do so. 



161 

RECONSIDER. 

"While it is necessary and right that a de- 
cision, once rendered, should, generally speak- 
ing, be final, yet it would be disastrous, if every 
action of the assembly were absolutely irrevo- 
cable; errors could not be corrected, and dam- 
ages resulting from hasty action could not be 
remedied. For this reason, while a motion, once 
decided, can not be made again (except in some 
cases after the transaction of other business),, 
said motion may be renewed — the vote by which 
such motion was decided may be reconsidered." 

This motion may be made at any time, even 
when another has the floor, or while the vote is 
being taken on the motion to adjourn. This 
high order of precedence belongs only to the 
making of the motion and its entry on the min- 
utes to be acted upon at the next meeting, and 
must be made the same day or the day after. 
I take this to mean the next meeting day after 
the taking of vote it is proposed to reconsider. 

This does not extend to its consideration, 
which is postponed until the business is fin- 
ished, which was interrupted by the making 
of the motion. It then becomes a special order 



162 

and is called up and takes precedence of every- 
thing except the motions to adjourn and to iii 
time to adjourn. 

Eeconsideration, if by ballot^ may be moved 
by any member, otherwise mnst be moved by one 
who voted with the prevailing, or winning, side. 
That is to say, a motion that passed can be re- 
considered only upon motion of one who voted 
for it. 

_ A motion that failed to pass can be reconsid- 
ered only upon motion of one who voted against 
it. Otherwise there would be nothing to indi- 
cate that a new vote would differ in any respect 
from the old, or that there had been any change 
of opinion in the matter, and a minority, how- 
ever small, could harass the assembly by com- 
pelling, through reconsideration, an additional 
and unnecessary vote upon every question de- 
cided. 

Any one may call up the motion to reconsider 
except when the effect of the motion outlasts the 
meeting or session at which it is made; no one 
can then call it up except its mover. If it is 
desired to alter any decision after the time has 
elapsed in which a reconsideration can be 
moved, the proper course is to rescind or annul, 



163 

if the motion was carried; if lost, renew at 
next session. 

Eeconsider is debatable, if the question to be 
considered is debatable. 

When to annul a resolution by rescinding does 
not adequately express the disapproval of the 
assembly, they may vote to expunge from the 
minutes the offensive motion. 

Form : ^^Expunged by order of the assembly 
this day of , etc.^' 

This is written across that portion of the 
record expunged. 

I^Teither the motion to rescind nor expunge 
hiis any precedence. 

No vote can be reconsidered without first re- 
considering in inverse order all subseqent votes 
which affect the question to be reconsidered. 

Before an amendment to an amendment can 
be reconsidered, reconsider must be carried. 

1st. On resolution, or motion. 

2nd. On the amendment. 

3rd. Then the amendment to the amendment 
may be reconsidered. 

Must be seconded. 

Needs only a majority vote even when the 



164 

question to be reconsidered requires a two-thirds 
vote or more. 

If lost, it leaves the main question just as it 
was before reconsider was moved; if carried, 
it places the question before the assembly just 
as it stood before it was voted on. 

The effect of the motion to reconsider is, 
that it suspends any action that would have 
resulted from the vote which is to be reconsid- 
ered, until the question of reconsideration is 
called up and acted upon, or until the time 
in which it may be called up has elapsed, and 
this is the end of the session. An organization 
having a weekly meeting for a certain time may 
call up the motion at any meeting during the 
session which ends with its final adjournment. 

If the reconsideration has not been called 
up and acted upon by the end of the session it 
loses its effect. 



165 

AMENDMENTS. 

Robert : 

While it is agreed that the member who in- 
troduces a motion or resolution has a right to 
demand that the assembly shall consider and 
take action upon it at once, yet it would be 
manifestly unfair to the assembly to compel it 
to vote on a proposition in the exact form in 
which it was introduced. For instance, the mo- 
tion may meet the approval of the members 
with some modifications, consequently the right 
to amend the original motion arises. 

Amendments may be hostile, that is, directly 
opposed to the original motion, but must be 
germane, i. e., related to or closely allied to the 
motion, bearing upon or properly applying to 
the case in hand. 

Where there is a doubt in the mind of the 
presiding officer as to whether or not an amend- 
ment is germane, she should give it the bene- 
fit of the doubt and hold it to be in order. To 
decide whether an amendment is germane or 
not, first ascertain what question is answered 
by the motion, and then whether or not it will, 
if amended, answer the same question. 

Where it is a matter of such delicacy or im- 



166 

portance that the chair is unwilling to assume 
the responsibility of ruling upon the germane- 
ness of the amendment, she may have the ques- 
tion settled by the assembly. 

Form: "All who think it is in order say 
aye ; those who think it is not in order say no.'^ 

If the decision is in the negative, no appeal 
can be taken, as the decision of the assembly 
can not be appealed from. Its decision is final. 
A deliberative assembly is its own supreme 
court of final resort. But it strengthens the po- 
sition and influence of the presiding officer to 
be able to decide all such questions for her- 
self, in the first instance, by promptly replying 
on well-defined rules, and referring to recog- 
nized authorities. 

No motion or proposition on a subject differ- 
ent from that under consideration should be ad- 
mitted under cover of an amendment. It may 
be inconsistent or incompatible with the words 
left in the motion, or with other amendments 
already adopted, but must be constitutional. 
These things are for the assembly, and not the 
presiding officer, to decide, as it would be most 
embarrassing to her if the assembly did not 
agree with her, and an assembly should not be 



167 

placed in a position where it feels compelled 
to antagonize its presiding officer. 

Kemember that ail decisions of the chair 
may be appealed from. Such appeal needs no 
recognition^ bnt must be seconded. 

POINT OF ORDER. 

A member violating a rule should be prompt- 
ly, yet courteously, called to order. Sometimes 
a tap of the gavel is all that is necessary, but 
if no notice is paid to this, some member should 
rise to a point of order. A member raising a 
point of order needs no recognition from the 
chair, no second, and may interrupt a speaker. 
The chair decides whether or not the point is 
well taken. 

A tie vote on an appeal sustains the decision 
of the chair. 

While a point of order must occasionally be 
raised to protect an assembly, and hence must 
be studied and practiced, frequent resort to it 
will make a person a great nuisance. Use this 
weapon sparingly, and when in doubt keep your 
«eat; but if you are sure of your ground do not 
hesitate to use it. — Robert. 



168 

Motions sometimes require more than one 
amendment. The only limit is the will of the 
assembly. Only one amendment to a motion 
can be entertained at a time. 

There are five forms of amendment. The 
three common forms are: 

1. To insert or add to. 

2. To strike out. 

3. To strike out and insert. 

The words inserted must be consecutive words 
and occupy the places of words struck out. 

The two other forms are : 

Substitute, and 

Division. 

A substitute is the substitution of one set of 
words for another. It therefore embodies the 
results of the first two forms of amendments 
combined. In a substitute the words need not 
be inserted in the same place as those stricken 
out. 

Form : "I move the adoption of the follow- 
ing as a substitute for the resolution (or mo- 
tion ).'' 

"I move to substitute for the amendment the 
following words." 



169 

A substitute may be amended, but the amend- 
ment can not be. 

It is not always in order to offer amendments. 
When the presiding officer is speaking, or a 
member has the floor; while the secretary is 
reading papers, while voting is going on, ex- 
cept in a vote of ayes and noes, that is, after 
the ayes respond and before the noes are called 
for, a member wishing to make an amendment 
rises and the chair is compelled to recognize her. 

Amendments may be moved by the maker 
of the original motion and must be seconded. 
After a motion has been stated by the chair, 
if an amendment is offered, the maker of the 
motion may notify the chair that she accepts 
the amendment. The chair then asks if there 
is any objection. If not, she then states that 
the amendment has been accepted. 

An amendment is debatable only when the 
motion to be amended is debatable. Debate 
must be confined to the question before the as- 
sembly. If on the amendment it may include 
the resolution only so far as the discussion of 
the amendment involves the discussion of the 
resolution itself. 

An amendment can not be renewed in the 



170 

same form as when first offered except by a mo- 
tion to reconsider. Only one who voted with 
the prevailing or winning side can move to re- 
consider. The affirmative is not always the pre- 
vailing side. "No" is just as much the progress 
of business as "yes." An amendment takes pre- 
cedence of nothing but the question it pro- 
poses to amend. 

To amend by division is a form used to se- 
cure separate votes on different parts of a mo- 
tion or resolution. All laws that apply to other 
amendments apply also to division. — E-eed. 



PRIISrCIPAL MOTION. 

When the main question, or principal motion, 
is composed of more than one proposition, it 
may be divided so as to enable the assembly to 
vote on each proposition separate^, but each 
must be independent of the other, so that either 
can be adopted alone and still be the opinion of 
the assembly. 

Form: "I move to divide the resolution (or 

motion) into parts.'' Two or more, as 

the case may be. 

An amendment may be laid on the table, and 



171 

carries with it all it proposes to amend, except 
an amendment to the minutes does not carry 
the minutes with it. 

A majority vote carries an ordinary amend- 
ment. It takes a two-thirds vote and previous 
notice to amend the constitution, by-laws and 
rules of order unless the society has a special 
rule to the contrary. It requires four separate 
votes to carry a question with two amendments : 

First, the amendment to the amendment. 
Shall the amendment be amended? 

Second, on the amendment as amended. 

Third, Shall the original motion be 
amended ? 

Fourth, on the original motion as amended. 



172 

DEBATE. 

The right to debate begins as soon as the 
presiding officer has formally stated the ques- 
tion to the assembly, and continues until the 
vote is taken. Debate consists of the speeches 
made for and against a measure by those favor- 
ing or opposing it, for the purpose of influenc- 
ing the vote thereon. Unless the mover of a 
motion claims her right to speak in its favor, 
the member who rises first and addresses the 
chair is entitled to recognition and the floor for 
debate. The question of who has risen first, if 
more than one has arisen, is to be decided by 
the presiding officer. An appeal from the decis- 
ion of the chair may be made by two members, 
if they think the chair's ruling unfair — one 
making the motion of appeal, the other second- 
ing it. 

Appeals must always be seconded, but it is 
not necessary to obtain the floor to make an 
appeal. In this case the assembly decides the 
question, from which there is no appeal. 

Eeed : "The purpose of debate is to produce 
unity of sentiment in the assembly, by such a 
comparison of views as will enable a majority 



173 

to form a just judgment on the subject before 
them for action. As the interchange of views 
in debate necessarily involves criticism of th§ 
views presented, and as such criticism is liable 
to pass into a criticism of the author, a debate 
may degenerate into a dispute, and the object of 
the debate be entirely lost sight of. To avoid 
this and to render discussion an appeal to rea- 
son and sentiment, and not to personal passions, 
there are many parliamentary devices. Among 
them is the requirement that the member shall 
never address any one but the presiding officer. 
She must never allude to any member by name, 
but by some descriptive expression, as, ^The 
lady who last spoke,' or, in a Federation meet- 
ing, 'The lady from Beeville.' In a general fed- 
eration meeting the state should be mentioned." 

The presiding officer must always speak of 
herself as "The Chair,'' never "I." Such expres- 
sions import respect and are in themselves a 
great restraint. 

"The mover of a proposition, or a member 
who presents a report, has the right to be first 
recognized when the question is opened to de- 
bate, even though another member has arisen 
and addressed the chair first. To allow the 



174 

member making a motion or report to explain 
at the first opportunity its intent and advan- 
tages, with which she is naturally supposed to 
be most conversant, is a benefit to the assembly 
as well as a courtesy to such member. One can 
vote against her own motion, but is not per- 
mitted to speak against it. In a sense debate 
and discussion mean the same thing. However, 
there is a shade of difference. We speak of de- 
bating a question when we discuss it in mutual 
argumentation before opposing parties. Debate 
often elicits important truths from the conflict 
of minds which might otherwise be overlooked. 
Do not make the mistake of supposing that de- 
bate consists in abusing or ridiculing your oppo- 
nent or in indulging in a harangue which ex- 
cites feeling, appeals to sentiment only and ob- 
scures reason. It should be a dignified discus- 
sion, involving only the real merits of the ques- 
tion at issue. It is not a dispute or controversy. 
No member may speak twice in debate until all 
others have had the opportunity to be heard 
once, if they so desire; but the maker of a mo- 
tion has the right to close the debate, even 
though the previous question has been ordered. 
(That is, carried.) We speak of discussmg a 



175 

subject when we examine it thoroughly in its 
distinct parts. Discussion often serves for 
amusement rather than for any solid purpose. 
If a member is called to order for words spoken 
in debate, upon motion by another member she 
may be permitted to explain, and if the decision 
is in her favor she is at liberty to proceed, but 
not otherwise. The consequences of a measure 
may be reprobated in strong terms, but to ar- 
raign the motives of those who propose to advo- 
cate it is a personality, and is against order. 
No one must disturb the assembly by walking 
about, whispering or passing between officers 
and members, unless absolutely necessary and 
with permission of the presiding officer, espe- 
cially if a member is speaking. Nevertheless if 
the speaker finds there is no inclination to hear 
her, it is the most prudent and less humiliating 
way to submit gracefully to the will of the as- 
sembly and sit down, for it rarely ever happens 
that such a piece of ill-manners is resorted to 
without sufficient reason, or inattention to a 
member who says anything worth their hearing. 
"If repeated calls do not produce order, the 
chair may call the person or persons guilty of a 
breach of order by name and the assembly may 



176 



require the offender to withdraw. A question of 
order may be postponed to afford time to look 
into precedents/^ 



PAELIAMENTARY DEFmiTIOJSTS OF 
TERMS. 

The "Table" is the secretary's desk. 

The "Chair/' the presiding officer. 

The "House/' the assembly/' i. e., members 
of a club, etc. 

"Gaining the Floor/' the right to speak, to 
make a motion, or debate. 

"Majority/' more votes for one candidate 
than ail the others combined. 

"Plurality/' more than any other one. 

"Debate/' the discussion of a question by 
which is determined the general will of the 
assembly. 



177 ' • 

SESSION. 

The meaning of the term session as used in 
parliamentary practice is the assembling of the 
members of an organization for the transaction 
of business, and also the time between the first 
meeting and adjournment. Robert says: "A 
session of an assembly is a meeting which, 
though it may last for days, is virtually one 
meeting," such as, for instance, the annual 
meeting of the Woman's Press Association, 
which may hold three daily meetings for a 
length of time during which there is no separa- 
tion of the members except an adjournment 
to meet again at some other time, even the 
same day, terminates the meeting, but not the 
session. A recess may be taken, which requires 
only the motion : "I move that we take a re- 
cess of minutes for the purpose of paying 

dues, meeting visitors, or for any other reason." 
The purpose and time must always be stated; 
this is not an adjournment, and when the ap- 
pointed time has expired the meeting must be 
caled to order at once. 

The unity of an organization is not altered 
by the fact that temporary adjournments di- 



178 

vide the session into a number of meetings. Each 
society should decide for itself what shall con- 
stitute a session and adopt a standing rule to 
this effect. This is important, as there are par- 
liamentary motions that are applied to the 
^^main cjuestion" that lose their influence over 
it at the termination of the session, such as "in- 
definitely postpone," "objection to considera- 
tion," "renewal of a motion" and "lay on the 
table." If this included a whole year, it will 
be readily understood that it would be unreason- 
able, and it is a principle of law that "what is 
not reasonable is not lawful." "In the absence 
of any special rule on the matter the general 
parliamentary law will prevail, and each regular 
meeting will constitute a ^session.' " 

If the meetings are frequent, and the fact 
that each one constitutes a session is taken ad- 
vantage of by the annoying renewal of rejected 
motions at subsequent meetings, a rule should 
be adopted prohibiting the introdction of any 
motion, once rejected, until the expiration of a 
reasonable time thereafter, the time to be def- 
initely fixed by the rule. I should suggest the 
placing such a rule in the constitution or by- 
laws. "ISTo one session of an assemblv can 



179 

interfere with the rights of the assembly at any 
future session; this has reference to the rules 
that each session has a right to make for its own 
conduct or proceeding/' 

^0 vote taken at a previous session can be 
reconsidered at a subseqent one^ except that the 
motion to reconsider made and entered upon 
the minutes at the last day of the session can 
be called up to be acted upon at the next suc- 
ceeding session. 



180 



QUOEUM. 



A quorum of an assembly is such a number as 
is competent to legally transact its business. Un- 
less a special rule has been adopted in the con- 
stitution, the quorum is a majority of all the 
members of the assembly. But when a society 
has a permanent existence, it is usual to adopt 
a much smaller number, the quorm being often 
less than one-twentieth of its members. This 
becomes a necessity in large societies, where 
only a few are ever present at a meeting. While 
a quorum is competent to transact any business, 
it is usually not desirable to transact business 
of importance unless there is a fair attendance 
at the meeting, or else previous notice has been 
given of the action to be taken, thereby giving 
every member an opportunity to be present, and 
either consent, or object, to the proposed action; 
if they neglect their duty and a small quorum 
legally transacts the business in v^hich all the 
memhers should have had a voice, they have no 
right to murmur at any action taken, but must 
forever hold their peace. It must be remem- 
bered that unanimous consent can not be given 
unless there is a quorum present. ''The regula- 



181 

tion that a quorum be present has been deemed 
essential to secure fairness of proceeding, and 
to prevent matters from being concluded in a 
hasty manner, or agreed to by so small a num- 
ber as not to command a due and proper re- 
spect/' This number may be fixed by law, by 
usage, or by the assembly itself, but if no rule 
is established in any of these ways, a majority is 
requisite. Bear in mind that the assembly is its 
own supreme court, and there is no appeal from 
its decision. Unanimous consent even has no 
power over a quorum that has been decided upon 
by the assembly in its constitution. Any rule 
changing this must be sanctioned by the same 
power that adopted the constitution. The 
weight of authority inclines to the principle 
that a present quorum only is necessary to give 
legality to the action taken, and this may be 
taken as an established rule. This is in accord 
with the common practice, which has not re- 
quired the record to show that a quorum 
voted. If those present do not vote, they are 
counted to make a quorum the same as if they 
voted, on the principle that silence gives con- 
sent to the action taken, so, if you do not want 
to be counted on the prevailmg side, be sure and 



182 

^^voice 5^our sentiments.'^ Do not forget that the 
prevailing side is not always the affirmative. No 
is jnst as much progress in business as yes, and 
yon may wish to negative a proposition. In 
many instances business of importance has to be 
postponed for lack of a qnornm, when the num- 
ber is a majority this frequently happens ; expe- 
rience has sho^wTi that for this reason a small 
number should constitute a quorum; if a small 
number is empowered to legally transact busi- 
ness in which the whole assembly is equally in- 
terested they will be apt to be present. A quo- 
rum is presumed to be present if no member 
raises the question. Otherwise business would 
be blocked. 



183 

COEPORATIONS. 

"A corporation is a body consisting of one or 
more persons, established by law for some spe- 
cific purpose, and continued by a succession of 
members. It is this last characteristic of a 
corporation prolonging its existence beyond the 
term of natural life and thereby enabling a 
long continued effort and concentration of 
means to the end it was designed to answer that 
constitutes its principal utility. A corporation is 
modeled after a state or nation, and to this day 
is called a body politic, as well as corporate, 
thereby indicating its origin and derivation.'' 

"All corporations are moulded and controlled 
both as to what they may do and the manner 
of their doing it by their charter or act of in- 
corporation, which to them are the laws of 
their being, which they can neither dispense 
with or alter, subject to such limitations as gen- 
cral statute or constitutional law may impose. 

"Every corporation aggregate, by virtue of in- 
corporation and incidental thereto, has first: 
The power of perpetual succession, including 
the admission, and the removal for cause of 
members. Second : The power to sue and be 



184 

sued, to grant, and receive grants, and to do all 
acts which it may do at all in its corporate name. 
Third: To receive, purchase and hold lands 
and other property, and to transmit them in 
succession, as the church is an example of apos- 
tolic succession established on Whitsunday. 
Fourth : To have a common seal ; to 
make, break, alter or renew it at pleasure. (A 
seal is an engraved stamp used for making an 
impression either in wax or ink to be attached 
to a document, or otherwise used by way of 
authentication or security.) Fifth: To make 
by-laAvs for its government so that they be con- 
sistent with its charter and the law of the land. 
The manner of making them and who shall 
make them, if not stated in the charter, resides 
in all the members. Those members of a cor- 
poration who succeed to the position of their 
predecessors are the same as heirs." 

Blackstone's definition : To form into a legal 
body or body politic; to constitute into a cor- 
poration recognized by law, having the capacity 
of perpetual succession with special rights and 
duties, a society having the capacity of transact- 
ing business as an individual. A corporate so- 
ciety is preserved by a succession of members 



185 

either forever or until dissolved by the power 
that formed it ; by the death of all its inemjjers ; 
by the surrender of its charter or franchise; or 
by forfeiture. 

Incorporation gives an organization of any 
kind the exclusive right to the name it has 
adopted and all the privileges that have been ac- 
corded it at the time ; a written evidence of cer- 
tain privileges given by a legislature that no 
one can infringe upon without being liable to 
prosecution. 



186 



QUESTIOiSrS AI^D ANSWERS. 

When a club indorses a candidate for election 
at a convention, would it be right or proper 
for the clnb to send their delegates unin- 
structed? Some contend that an indorsement 
of a candidate is equivalent to a pledge of sup- 
port, and that the delegate could not be sent un- 
instructed. 

Answer — The verbal indorsement of a candi- 
date has no legal power, but gives expression to 
the club's approval of the candidacy merely. In 
order to secure the support of the club it is nec- 
essary that a written statement to that effect be 
made officially, and the delegate be instructed 
to vote for and use her influence in favor of 
the person named. It is the part of wisdom, 
however, to send delegates to a convention un- 
instructed, as it may be necessary for the sake 
of peace and harmony to vote for the "^^dark 
horse,'' as politicians say, that is, a candidate 
upon whom a majority may unite, that hereto- 
fore had not been thought of. 



Ig7 

EFFECT OF ADJOURNMENT UPON UN- 
FINISHED BUSINESS. 

The business interrupted by adjournment is 
the first in order after the reading of the min- 
utes at the next meeting. However, in cases 
where meetings are held but once a year, it is 
customary .to move that all unfinished business 
be referred to the executive board during the 
interim between meetings, and this is acted upon 
at the mid-year meeting of the executive board, 
or any meeting of that body antedating the an- 
nual meeting. 



188 

EXECUTIVE BOARD. 

An executive board is a standing committee 
composed of the general officers of a society and 
a number of appointed members, and, if desired, 
chairmen of committees and the parliamen- 
tarian. The presiding officer is always the chair- 
man, and the recording secretary of the society 
is secretary of the board. This committee^s 
duties are always outlined in the constitution or 
by-laws of the organization; they have charge 
of all business of a private nature regarding ap- 
plications for membership, or to investigate 
charges miade against a member. The action 
taken may be presented to the assembly for 
approval, but if thought best, in the interest of 
justice and mercy, may be confined to the 
board. 

OFFICIAL BOARD 

Is composed of the general officers only. 

In the W. C. T. U., instead of chairmen of 
committees, they are designated as superinten- 
dents of departments, as it has been found best 
to make one person responsible for a special line 
of work. 



189 

QUESTION AND ANSWER. 

When a speaker will not yield the floor in 
debate, and is utterly regardless of parliamen- 
tary procedure, or the rights of others, or will 
not pay any attention to the presiding officer, 
what is to be done? Page 80 gives one answer. 
Then, again : You can all walk out and leave 
her talking to empty chairs, or, as in the W. 
C. T. U., some one — if such a circumstance ever 
arose — would rise and suggest ^^that we join in 
the Lord's Prayer," or Sister S. J. Sweeney, the 
State evangelist, would rise and say gently, "Sis- 
ters, let us pray," and by the time she had fin- 
ished we'd all be glad we were not the one. 



190 
DELEGATE AND ALTERNATE. 

In selecting a delegate to represent yonr club 
it is important for the good name of the society 
that the best material for the purpose should be 
chosen. While it is important, especially if one 
is going away from home, to be well and hand- 
som.ely gowned, it is much more important to be 
well equipped mentally. It is presumed that a 
delegate has found out what will be required of 
her as such; and has prepared herself for her 
work by a report to the convention, and that 
she has a written report of what was done at 
the convention for the information of her club, 
at the first meeting after her return ; this report 
should be handed to the recording secretary to be 
kept among the archives of the society she rep- 
resents, as valuable history. It is necessary for a 
delegate to study the annual report of the organ- 
ization to which she belongs, which always con- 
tains the most useful and valuable information, 
that she may be informed upon the questions 
that are liable to come up for debate, so as to 
intelligently discuss them. 

The above applies also to an alternate, for, 
like a vice-president, who upon occasion must 



191 

take the place of the presiding officer, so the 
alternate must, if she takes the place of the 
delegate, prepare herself for the position. 

FORM OF CEEDEFTIAL. 

At (such a convention, or, at the regular 

meeting of club) held at on 

(date), the following named person 

or persons were elected delegates to, etc., .... 

to be held at (date 

following), and are entitled to seats in said 
body as representatives of this club or society. 
Alternates to be named. 

Signed by president and secretary. 

IMPORTANT DON'TS. 

Don't say, I would like to make a motion, or, 
I make a motion, or, I move you, but simply 
say, I move that, or to ; The simple form I move 
is all that is necessary. 

Don't says prec-e-dence, when you mean pre- 
ced-ence. A prec-e-dent is an established fact; 
pre-ced-ence is going before. 

Read and study the constitution, bv-laws and 
rules of order of the society to which you be- 
long. 



192 

FINALE. 

We have now completed a brief resume of the 
structure and necessity of parliamentary law, 
and have shown how admirably these laws are 
adapted, for a wholesome and dignified exercise 
of the powers that have been confided to them. 

All the checks which human ingenuity all up 
and down the ages has been able to devise to 
protect the interests of the minority and con- 
duct business according to the rules and customs 
governing polite society are embodied here, and 
have been introduced with skill, wisdom and 
cleverness, not by the author, but by the com- 
bined authorities of past and present ages. 

"Manner is of great importance. It is that 
invisible quality which insensibly pervades, with 
the happiest effect, a presiding officer or speaker. 
It can not perhaps be absolutely acquired, but it 
may be improved. It communicates itself by a 
thousand mediums to the actions, bearing and 
conduct; it is an indescribable combination of 
ease and dignity. It is felt in the tones of the 
voice ; which is the power of utterance." 

The voice is an indicator; an expression of 
tense or disturbed nerves. 'No voice is without 



193 

gignification ; the loud, the angry, the querlous, 
the irritable, the anxious, the pedagogic, the 
monotonous, are each to be avoided. 

The "Vox Humana" is of the most delicate 
workmanship; it may be attuned to the finest, 
the most beautiful expression, that will be a 
rest and a pleasure to the hearer; such a voice 
may be cultivated, and with the manner spoken 
of gives the possessor an undeniable stamp of 
culture and good breeding. 

"The expression of the mind and soul through 
speech is God's highest and best gift to man- 
kind. The voice is the personal, vital and only 
organ of the soul.'^ 

"It is not so much ivhat you say, 
As the manner in which you say it. 

It is not so much the language you use, 
As the tones in which you convey it.'' 

There are qualities of the mind that are of a 
very noble nature; a clear intellect, by which 
is meant the faculty of darting in a moment 
upon the truth, is a natural gift, but may be 
cultivated and improved. 

Quick perception is a wonderful power. Who- 
ever can be made to comprehend with readiness 



194 

can soon understand the system of parliamen- 
taxj law^ and whoever can think minutely may 
soon be master of the plan. It is practice that 
is required. 

"In solitude one may think correctly and rea- 
son clearly/'' but when one faces an audience 
and every eye is turned on the speaker, every 
idea that found entrance into the brain may 
"flee as a bird/' and one may find no thought or 
word with which to express oneself. 

In conclusion I quote from recent reading: 

"If mythical gods and goddesses had a sys- 
tem by which the act of self-control was made 
a duty, should we not in this enlightened age 
make double the effort to improve with the 
many advantages at our disposal?" 

Henry Ward Beecher left this message to 
the world : 

"We should so live and labor in our time 
that what came to us as seed may go to the next 
generation as blossom, and what came to us as 
blossom may go to them as fruit. This is what 
is meant by progress. It is God's law for every 
period." 

"Law and the love that is the fulfillment of 
the law must be united in order to bring about 



195 

the altruistic principles that are the embodi- 
ment of true social power." 

''Gather up all the moral and spiritual force 
within yourself; you will gain power through 
the use of these, and it will fill your body with 
a divine dignity." 

"In self-reliance lies the secret power of abil- 
ity to influence those with whom you are as- 
sociated, and I reiterate a truth that will bear 
repetition : 

"To be able to diffuse a generous spirit 
throughout the assembly and yet decide all 
questions impartially, should be the aim of a 
presiding officer." 

"The creation of a healthy sentiment among 
the members is as important for success as the 
law of politeness is necessary to the comfort and 
well being of the community." 

"You never can tell what your thoughts will do 

In bringing you hate or love, 
For thoughts are things, and their airy wings 

Are swifter than carrier doves ; 
They follow the law of the universe, 

Each thing must create its kind. 
And they fly o'er the track to bring you back. 

Whatever went out from your mind." 



196 



IN CONCLUSION. 

It must be remembered that "Our human 
laws are but the copies, more or less imperfect, 
of the eternal iaws^ so far as we can read them." 
Law is the revelation of time, the priceless in- 
heritance of antiquity ! Ignorance of the rules 
and regulations of parliamentary law does not 
exempt one from paying the penalty attached 
to disobedience of these laws, for no one has. a 
right to be ignorant upon a subject so important 
to the existence and well being of an organiza- 
tion. 



p 



INDEX 



This index will be a complete guide to the con- 
tents of this treatise. There will be no confusing 
references to figures or sections. Everything per- 
taining to one subject will be found in one place, 
so far as possible, to avoid unnecessary delays, as 
the purpose is to expedite matters. 
The page only is referred to. 

Page 

Alternate and Delegate 80, 102, 190, 191 

Adjourn — Motion to fix time to which to.... 23, 98 

Not alv/ays privileged 99 

When qualified — changed — becomes a princi- 
pal motion, can be debated, amended, etc.. 99 

When not in order 99, 100 

When in order 100 

Effect on unfinished business 187 

Adopt, Accept, Approve 147, 158 

Assembly — its duty 

and rights 79, 80, 81, 102, 121, 128, 181 

Amendments 165, 170, 171 

Who has a right to make 165 

Must be "germane" 165 

Presiding officer's action with relation 

thereto 165, 166 

No motion or resolution on a subject different 
from that under consideration can be al- 
lowed under form of 166 

Limit of 168 

Forms of 168 

How placed 168 

Not always in order 169 

When debate is in order upon 157, 169 



198 

Page 

Renewal, when in order 170 

Of Rules of Order, Constitution and 

By-Laws 55, 56, 65, 66 

To minutes 53, 89, 90 

Amend rules 124 

How vote taken 118 

How many votes to carry 171 

Appeal, first court of 41, 42 

Appeal from the decision of the 

chair 106, 107, 110, 172 

Announcing the vote 140 

Acclamation — voting by 138 

Ballot — Nominations by 58, 59, 137, 138 

Cast by Secretary 59 

When in order 132 

Business — By whom introduced .63, 69 

Order of and how presented. . . .72, 73, 74, 75, 105 

Priority of 104, 105, 127 

Unfinished, effect of adjournment upon 145 

By-Laws — What they should contain 65 

Definition of 65, 66 

Adoption of 57 

Amendment of 66 

Suspension of 69 

Report of 54 

Committees — Appointment of 142 

Object of 128, 142 

Quorum of 142 

Report of 144, 147, 148, 152, 153 

Principle of selection 143, 147 

Chairman of 143, 144, 146 

Kind of. Duties of 144, 145, 148 

Executive 145, 146, 147 

Committee of the Whole 149, 150, 151, 152 

Common errors 147, 148 

Credential 148 



199 

Page 

Ex-officio member 154 

Minority report 153 

Sub-committees 151 

Who can call meeting 151 

Reconsideration of vote in 151 

How meeting is closed 150 

Committee program 127 

Rights of 128 

Change of vote 141 

Classification of motions 94 

Corresponding Secretary 93 

Close debate, motion to 120 

Consent, unanimous 26, 146, 180, 181 

Constitutions — What they should contain 65 

Adoption of 54, 55, 56 

Amendment of, tvs^o-thirds vote 66 

Cannot be suspended 112 

Consideration of a question, objection 

to 114,119,178 

Constitutions — The object of 64 

What is a 64 

What contained in 65 

Why necessary 50 

Suspension of 112 

Resolution or motion cannot conflict 128 

Charter members 56 

Corporations 183, 184, 185 

Conclusion ,. . . 196 

"Club Woman," official organ women's clubs, 78, 79 

Common sense and common courtesy 80 

Corresponding Secretary 93 

Classification of motions 94 

Candidates, how selected 137 

Class address 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40 

Court of Appeals 41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 46, 47, 48, 49 

Chair, the presiding officer. .76, 77, 78, 79, 80, 81, 124 



200 

Page 

Courtesy, its demands 51 

Credential, form of 191 

Code Justinian 43, 44, 49 

Code Napoleon 44 

Christianity, its effect upon law 45, 46 

Candidates, how selected 137 

Delay action 159, 160 

Debate — When in order, its purpose 70, 172 

How often member may speak in .174 

Member making motion has the right to 

open and close 173, 174 

Closing, limiting or extending. .115, 120, 121, 130 
Decorum in, controlling. .32, 77, 129, 130, 173, 175 

To postpone 121 

Right to floor in 172 

Its meaning 176 

Right of chair to take part in 78 

Right of assembly to protect itself in. .79, 80, 108 

Ex-off icio 154 

Election of officers 51, 57, 135, 137 

Unanimous election 59 

Secretary cast the ballot 85 

Errors 147 

Expulsion requires two-thirds vote 108, 109 

Experience 79 

Executive Board 188 

Expunge from minutes 165 

Fix time to vfhich to adjourn 

Floor — How to obtain 69 

V/hy necessary 69, 70 

"What is meant by gaining the .176 

Forms — Of making motions 71 

Of a resolution 73, 74 

Of stating and putting motions, the 

same 69, 72, 73, 74 

Favor of, decline in 60 



201 

Page 

First court of appears 41 

Finale 192 

General parliamentary laws 23,79 

General orders 104 

General usage 20 

How to manage the principal motion 62 

How candidates are selected 137 

History's influence upon law 44 

Habit — its influence and analysis 28 

House, question before the 18 

Important Don'ts 191 

Incidental motions 75,94,95,110,111,112 

Explanations of and how managed 110 

Introduction 15 

Its object 63 

Informal action 155 

Indefinite postponement 115 

Indecorum in debate, leave to continue 

after 108, 157, 175 

Incorrect form of refusing nomination 59 

Incorporation 183, 184, 185 

Judgment 19 

Journal, or record book 53, 90 

Jefferson's Manual . .- 21 

Knowledge 19 

Lay on the table 88, 97, 114, 115, 176 

List of motions 95 

Main question 62, 71, 72, 114, 157, 164 

Majority vote 74, 90, 107, 118, 120, 143, 176 

Majorities, rights of 122, 160 

Of committee report 153 

Meeting — Its meaning and conduct 51, 52, 53, 77 

Difference in 84 

To fix time of 98 

Held at long intervals 124 



202 

Page 

Miscellaneous motions 122,123,124,125, 

126, 127, 128, 129, 130 

Minorities, protection of 117, 158 

Members, rights and duties of 32,69,70,77, 

79, 80, 81, 103 

Minutes 84, 86, 87, 88, 89, 90 

Manner, its importance 187 

Motions, undebatable 156, 157 

Motions tiiat cannot be amended 157 

Motions that do not require obtaining the floor. 101 
Nominations not accepted 58 

Incorrect form of refusing 59, 60 

Most satisfactory method 58 

Negative vote not taken 51 

Organization — Two kinds of 49, 50, 51 

How conducted 52, 53, 54, 55 

Obedience to law 47, 48 

Officers and duties 76, 77, 78, 79 

Officers, Secretary 84, 85 

Official Board 188 

Orders of the day 104 

Order, points of and appeals 106, 107, 110 

Principal motion, when composed of more 

than one proposition 170, 171 

Privileged motions 99, 100, 101, 102 

Parliamentary law 15, 16, 17, 18, 

19, 20, 24, 25, 26 

Definitions of terms 176 

Point of order 106, 167 

Parliamentary inquiry 103, 124 

Pending motions and amendments 71 

Parliamentary motions that are undebatable. . .156 

Proxies 136 

President, duties 76, 77, 78, 79, 129, 130 

Promote action, to 158, 159 

Previous question 117, 118 



203 

Page 

Quorum 180, 181, 182 

Questions and answers 186, 189 

Questions that cannot be amended 157 

Qualifications of President 29,30,31,32 

Reconsider 161, 162, 163, 164 

Recording Secretary 86, 87, 88, 89, 90 

Reed, his contribution to good government. .22, 23 

Resolutions, form of presenting 71, 72, 73, 74 

Reading of papers Ill 

Rescind, to .122 

Renewal of a motion, or amendment 123 

When debatable 163 

How vote can be reconsidered 163 

Effect of upon the motion or resolution 164 

Suspension of rules 68, 69, 112, 113 

Constitution and By-Laws 68, 69 

Standing rules 66, 67 

Seconding motions 70 

Subsidiary motions, precedence of 71, 94, 96, 97 

Special rules 126 

Session 177, 178 

Reconsider the vote cannot be made at sub- 
sequent 179 

Treasurer, duties of 91, 92 

Tact 18, 19, 31 

Unanimous vote and consent 26, 146, 180, 181 

Unfinished Business 187 

Unwritten will 20 

Vice-President, qualifications and duties 82,83 

Voting — Its importance 131, 132 

Methods of 132, 133 

Biasing a vote 133, 134 

Withdraw a motion, to Ill, 112 

Voice and vox humana 193 

Yeas and nays 132 

Yielding the right to the floor 129 



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